Taxonomic classification <> Photos
The crested kingfisher (Megaceryle lugubris) belongs to the family Alcedinidae under the order Coraciiformes.
Water kingfishers
The species Megaceryle lugubris are grouped under the subfamily Cerylinae. The Cerylinae are all specialist fish-eating species. This subfamily has three genera, viz, Megaceryle, Ceryle and Chloroceryle.Megaceryle is a genus of very large birds comprising four species, viz, Megaceryle lugubris, Megaceryle maxima, Megaceryle torquata and Megaceryle alcyon. All these species are specialist fish-eaters. All of the Megaceryle spp. have prominent stiff crest on their heads.
The crested kingfisher species sit on a perch stolidly and spend much of their time in quiet surveillance. Their prefered perch is usually and branch of tree near water, edge of a bank or jutting rocks amidst flowing water.
On spotting a manageable prey the bird dive head first into the water. The prey is grabbed in bill and the bird returns to the perch with the catch. The prey is battered against the perch until it is immobile and then it is swallowed whole.
Their retina is adapted to instantaneously change from air vision to vision under water. They have pretty fast reflexes. They also can dive from hovering flight, especially when the water is choppy. They may dive to a depth of 60 cm or more.
| Taxonomic classification | |
|---|---|
| Binomial name: | Megaceryle lugubris |
| Species: | M. lugubris |
| Genus: | Megaceryle |
| Subfamily: | Cerylinae |
| Family: | Alcedinidae |
| Order: | Coraciiformes |
| Class: | Aves |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
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| 1.Crested kingfisher - Megaceryle lugubris - Photo by Tokumi |
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| 2.Crested kingfisher - Megaceryle lugubris - Photo by Mprasannak |
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| 3.Crested kingfisher - Megaceryle lugubris - Photo by HIRO KOTA |
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| 4.Crested kingfisher - Megaceryle lugubris - Photo by Tokumi |
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| 5.Crested kingfisher - Megaceryle lugubris - Photo by HIRO KOTA |
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| 6.Crested kingfisher - Megaceryle lugubris by Tokumi |
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| 7.Crested kingfisher - Megaceryle lugubris by HIRO KOTA |
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| 8.Crested kingfisher - Megaceryle lugubris by Arghyadeep98 |
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| 9.Megaceryle lugubris photo by HIRO KOTA |
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| 10.Megaceryle lugubris by Francesco Veronesi |
1.Photo source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wiki-yamsemi1.jpg (cropped)
Author: Tokumi | License: Public domain
2.Photo source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Crested_Kingfisher_Prasanna_Mamidala.jpg (cropped)
Author: Mprasannak | License: CC BY-SA 4.0
3.Photo source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/137769404@N04/27664299495/
Author: HIRO KOTA | License: CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 as on 5/14/17
4.Photo source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Megaceryle_lugubris,_crop.jpg (cropped)
Author: Tokumi | License: Public domain
5.Photo source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/137769404@N04/31502436565/
Author: HIRO KOTA | License: CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 as on 5/14/17
6.Photo source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wiki-yamasemi-mesu,_crop.jpg (cropped)
Author: Tokumi | License: Public domain
7.Photo source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/137769404@N04/31464894546/
Author: HIRO KOTA | License: CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 as on 5/14/17
8.Photo source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Crested_Kingfisher.jpg (cropped)
Author: Arghyadeep98 | License: CC BY-SA 4.0
9.Photo source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/137769404@N04/26846340404/
Author: HIRO KOTA | License: CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 as on 5/14/17
10.Photo source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Crested_Kingfisher_-_Bhutan_S4E9419_(16130560610).jpg (cropped)
Author: Francesco Veronesi | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 as on 5/14/17
Current topic in Birds of India: Crested kingfisher (Megaceryle lugubris) photos.