Alcedo quadribrachys
The Shining-blue Kingfisher (*Alcedo quadribrachys*) is a strikingly beautiful and relatively large member of the *Alcedo* genus, boasting an average length of 22 cm (8.7 inches) and weighing between 50-70 grams. Its upperparts are a spectacular, glossy cobalt or deep shining blue, contrasting sharply with rich rufous underparts and a pristine white throat patch, accented by a white spot on the lores. Distinctive field marks include its vivid blue back, rufous chest, and its comparatively lar...
Found along clear, fast-flowing forest streams and rivers, generally in primary or mature secondary forest habitats. Occupies lowland to mid-altitude environments up to 1,800 meters.
Primarily piscivorous, consuming small fish caught by diving. Also supplements its diet with aquatic insects, tadpoles, and small crustaceans.
The Shining-blue Kingfisher is a predominantly solitary and diurnal bird, often observed perching quietly on low branches or roots overhanging clear water, patiently waiting for prey. Its primary foraging strategy involves a sudden, headfirst dive from its perch to snatch fish or aquatic inverteb...
The Shining-blue Kingfisher is a non-migratory resident of West and Central Africa, exhibiting a broad yet somewhat fragmented distribution across the continent's equatorial belt. Its breeding range extends from Liberia eastward through Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equato...
Least Concern
- The Shining-blue Kingfisher's vibrant blue plumage isn't due to pigment, but rather structural coloration, where microscopic feather structures scatter blue light, creating an iridescent effect that shifts with viewing angle. - Despite its relatively large size for an *Alcedo*, it remains incre...