Crested kingfisher

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Crested kingfisher

Overview
The crested kingfisher (Megaceryle lugubris) is a very large kingfisher native to parts of southern Asia. It belongs to the Megaceryle genus, which includes three other kingfishers (giant kingfisher, ringed kingfisher, and belted kingfisher). It forms a species group with these related kingfishers.

Description
The crested kingfisher is a large, stocky bird about 38–43 cm tall and weighing 230–280 g. It has a long, pointed black bill with a yellowish-white tip, and a large shaggy black-and-white crest. Its upperparts are finely barred in black and white, with grey-and-white barred flanks; the belly is white with a black-speckled breastband. A white collar runs from the base of the bill to the back of the neck. The tail is black with 6–8 white bars. Males and females are similar in size, but females have bright pink-cinnamon underwing coverts (pale rufous on the rest of the wing), while males have rufus-orange feathers on the breastband.

Taxonomy
- Family: Alcedinidae (kingfishers)
- Order: Coraciiformes
- Genus: Megaceryle (with giant kingfisher, ringed kingfisher, belted kingfisher)
- Species: Megaceryle lugubris
- Subspecies (four): M. l. continentalis, M. l. guttulata, M. l. pallida, M. l. lugubris
The first formal description was in 1834 by Temminck; the genus Megaceryle was established in 1848.

Distribution and habitat
The crested kingfisher has the most restricted distribution of the Cerylinae subfamily. It ranges from northeast Afghanistan to central Vietnam and Japan. It lives in forested areas near rivers and foothill regions, and sometimes occupies higher mountain areas where its range overlaps with other kingfishers. Nests are dug in vertical river banks, forming tunnels about 2–3 meters long with a burrow entrance roughly 30–50 cm wide.

Behaviour and diet
This species is a fish-eater, often hunting from a high perch above water. It watches for prey near the surface and then dives headfirst to catch it, typically from a considerable height. It tends to hunt in larger rivers or open channels and can dive deeper than some other kingfishers. Its diet is mostly fish, including species like Japanese dace and pale chub; Ayu is commonly brought to the nest.

Reproduction
Both males and females help excavate a burrow in a vertical riverbank. The entrance is 10–15 cm wide, and the burrow length is 2–3 meters, ending in a nest chamber about 30–50 cm deep. Between March and July, depending on the subspecies, 4–7 eggs are laid. The female incubates the eggs, and both parents feed the young for about 40 days until they fledge.

Vocalization
In flight, the crested kingfisher makes a loud ket ket sound and also emits loud peeps and deep croaks between mates. When perched, they can produce rattling calls.

Status
The crested kingfisher is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. While the population is believed to be decreasing, the overall range and numbers are still large enough that it does not meet the criteria for a Vulnerable status. In Japan, however, the species is considered threatened in many prefectures due to habitat loss.