Brown-hooded Kingfisher (Halcyon albiventris)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Brown-hooded Kingfisher

Halcyon albiventris (Scopoli, 1786)

22 cmLength65 gWeight

The brown-hooded kingfisher (Halcyon albiventris) is a species of bird in the subfamily Halcyoninae, the tree kingfishers.

Busiest months: October–November · Most records: South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Brown-hooded Kingfisher has been recorded at 224 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 14 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Mkhuze GRSouth Africa436 records
  2. iSimangaliso WP – Eastern ShoresSouth Africa395 records
  3. Zaagkuildrift RdSouth Africa314 records
More places
  1. Kruger NP – Skukuza CampSouth Africa307 records
  2. Macaneta – Wetland, dune forests and coastMozambique291 records
  3. Kruger NP – Berg-en-Dal CampSouth Africa277 records
  4. Walter Sisulu National Botanical GardenSouth Africa271 records
  5. St Lucia – iGwalagwala TrailSouth Africa261 records
  6. Phinda GR – AirfieldSouth Africa249 records
  7. Arusha NPTanzania241 records

Countries and regions with the most records

South AfricaZambiaMozambiqueZimbabweTanzaniaBotswanaKenyaMalawi

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The brown-hooded kingfisher (Halcyon albiventris) is a species of bird in the subfamily Halcyoninae, the tree kingfishers. It has a brown head and blackish and turquoise wings. It is found in Sub-Saharan Africa, living in woodland, scrubland, forest edges, and also suburban areas.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Brown-hooded Kingfisher?

The Brown-hooded Kingfisher is about 22 cm long and weighs around 65 g.

Where does the Brown-hooded Kingfisher live?

Its breeding range: Africa: eastern, southeastern, west-central. It is most often recorded in South Africa, Zambia and Mozambique.

When is the best time to see the Brown-hooded Kingfisher?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in October and November (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Brown-hooded Kingfisher endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Brown-hooded Kingfisher as Least Concern.

What does the Brown-hooded Kingfisher eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Brown-hooded Kingfisher in?

It belongs to the family Kingfishers (Alcedinidae), order Coraciiformes.

At a glance

Length
22 cm
Weight
65 g
Habitat
Shrubland
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Perches in trees
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
100 mm
Tail
64 mm
Bill
49 mm
Tarsus
14 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Africa: eastern, southeastern, west-central

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Family
Kingfishers Alcedinidae
Genus
Halcyon

Other birds in the genus Halcyon

Ruddy KingfisherRuddy KingfisherHalcyon coromandaWhite-throated KingfisherWhite-throated KingfisherHalcyon smyrnensisBrown-breasted KingfisherBrown-breasted KingfisherHalcyon gularisJavan KingfisherJavan KingfisherHalcyon cyanoventrisChocolate-backed KingfisherChocolate-backed KingfisherHalcyon badiaBlack-capped KingfisherBlack-capped KingfisherHalcyon pileataGrey-headed KingfisherGrey-headed KingfisherHalcyon leucocephalaStriped KingfisherStriped KingfisherHalcyon chelicutiBlue-breasted KingfisherBlue-breasted KingfisherHalcyon malimbicaWoodland KingfisherWoodland KingfisherHalcyon senegalensisMangrove KingfisherMangrove KingfisherHalcyon senegaloides
Brown-hooded Kingfisher

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Ian White. ↗

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