Birds
Grey-headed Kingfisher
Halcyon leucocephala · also called grey-headed kingfishers
Snapping up a lizard from dry savanna ground far from any river, a grey-headed kingfisher shows just how flexible the kingfisher family can be, its pale grey head and chestnut belly a familiar sight across the drier reaches of sub-Saharan Africa.
Overview
The grey-headed kingfisher, Halcyon leucocephala, is a flexible, land-hunting kingfisher native to forest and grassland habitat across sub-Saharan Africa. Its pale grey head contrasting with a chestnut belly, bright red bill, and equally comfortable hunting of insects and lizards on dry land or fish over water make it one of the most dietarily adaptable kingfishers found anywhere in Africa.
A kingfisher for dry country
The grey-headed kingfisher’s willingness to hunt insects and lizards across dry savanna, rather than relying solely on fish, has let it thrive in parts of Africa that many more water-dependent kingfishers would struggle to survive in.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread across suitable forest and grassland habitat throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
Grey-headed Kingfisher: common questions
Does the grey-headed kingfisher only hunt fish?
No, this species hunts insects and lizards across dry savanna and woodland as readily as it hunts fish over water, a flexible diet that lets it thrive well away from any river or lake.
How can you identify a grey-headed kingfisher?
This species can be identified by its pale grey head, rich chestnut belly, dark blue-black wings and back, and a bright red bill that stands out clearly against the rest of its plumage.
Does the grey-headed kingfisher migrate?
This species undertakes seasonal movements in parts of its range, linked to rainfall patterns and the resulting availability of insect prey, rather than a long, fixed annual migration.
Where does the grey-headed kingfisher nest?
This species nests in burrows dug into earth banks or termite mounds, a nesting strategy shared with several related African kingfisher species.