Giant Kingfisher

Description

The Giant Kingfisher (Megaceryle maxima) — Africa’s largest kingfisher — is a striking and unmistakable bird found along rivers, lakes, and estuaries across sub-Saharan Africa. Its bold black-and-white plumage, shaggy crest, and heavy dagger-like bill make it perfectly adapted for a life of fishing.

Perched quietly above the water, it waits with unwavering focus before plunging headfirst in a powerful dive to snatch fish, frogs, or crabs — its primary diet. The splash is brief, but the precision is extraordinary. Its loud, rasping “kek-kek-kek” call often carries across gorges and waterways, a sound that reveals its presence long before it’s seen.

Pairs are territorial and typically monogamous, nesting in long tunnels excavated into riverbanks — sometimes over two meters deep.

PRINT#16B

Paper Print (Archival – Matt Texture)
Landscape Format:
A3 420 x 297mm Print Code J – R
A2 594 x 420mm Print Code K – R