The Woodland Kingfisher is a good example of the brilliant coloration of many tropical Kingfishers. It lives throughout the northern half of Africa wherever there is water.
It will hunt from a favorite perch and take anything it can catch small enough to kill and eat. As you can see from the photos below, one of the things it will eat is Scarab Beetles.
Classification:
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Alcedinidae
Genus: Halcyon
Species: H. senegalensis
Photos:
Woodland Kingfisher
"This must have been the most luxurious picture of the whole South Africa Trip.. No crawling around on dirt roads, no bending my back in the most impossible positions to get a shot right….. but.. We were staying at Rattray’s in the Mala Mala Game Reserve, which is a .. er…very comfortable lodge (for sure this is the understatement of the year!). During breakfast I noticed the Woodland Kingfishers that were flying off and on and quite often landing on the same branche. I had my camera with me so I sat myself down on the terasse in front of that particular tree.. the sun gaining strength, a waiter checking on me every 15 minutes or so. In a word: GREAT! I’ve seldom felt more pampered than then. On top of that, while shooting happily at the Kingfishers, I had a hilarious conversation with a couple from New York who knew the most interesting gossip about certain American politicians. I didn’t think that I, being Dutch (and we dó have a reputation for being ‘quite’ liberal) could have been shocked about what I heard, but I certainly was! American politics will never be the same again (in my wicked mind 
In the end, we were laughing so hard, it scared the Kingfishers away, but for once.. I didn’t mind at all! :-)"
Photo courtesy of hvhe1
Woodland Kingfisher
"Woodland Kingfisher, Bosveldvisvanger (Halocyon senegalensis) just as if he is posing for the camera"
Photo courtesy of neillvs
#2 OF WOODLAND KINGFISHER
"Woodland Kingfisher (Halcyon senegalensis) 23 cm; 63 g. Zwartkloof Private Game Reserve near Bela Bela, South Africa."
Photo courtesy of ruslou
May I have this dance…
"Not a great shot….but what a beautiful picture these two Woodland Kingfishers make. Kruger National park, South Africa"
Photo courtesy of Jumbo22
Ed. Note: As I commenten on this photo, I disagree. I think its a great shot.
Video:
Commentary:
Solomon, Guide at Leroo La Tau
I like the Woodland Kingfisher, a summer visitor. Once you hear the Woodland Kingfisher calling, it indicates that in 2-3 days it will be raining. That’s why I go for it.” Favorite r… Read more…
Anyway my garden is full of birds and I just love to wake up in the morning to the sounds of the woodland Kingfisher an insect eating bird with beautifull colours and the weavers are making th… Read more…
Summer visitors and nesting activities
Woodland Kingfisher 3. Weaver. Jacobin Cuckoo. Paradise Flycatcher 1. Paradise Flycather 2. Golden Breasted Bunting. (click on thumbnails to enlarge). The summer rains have started. First the G… Read more…
Masai Mara Widerbeest Migration - A Wonder to Behold
For bird watchers there are a wide variety of birds like the Helmeted Guinea Fowl,Vitelline Masked Weaver and Woodland Kingfisher. Throughout the month of July, the herds of Wildebeests cross t… Read more…
the flight of the woodland kingfisher is rapid and direct. the large bill has a red upper mandible and black lower mandible. the legs are bright red. some birds may have greyish heads, causing … Read more…
