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Malachite Kingfisher


Malachite Kingfisher
Photo Information
Copyright: Liezel Dsouza (ldsouza) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 101 W: 25 N: 218] (1369)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-01-20
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 5D, Canon EF 300 f4L + Canon 1.4 converter
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/640 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Final Version, Original Version
Theme(s): Kingfishers [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-02-15 17:23
Viewed: 5708
Points: 14
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
We saw this wonderful bird while doing a boat safari in a dugout canoe in the Okavango Delta. The picture does not do the bird justice, it was breathtakingly beautiful and sparkled in the sunlight. What a privelege to see it. I guess from the notes below, this is a male. There was another kingfisher sitting right next to him, I will post that pic later. Enjoy!

Malachite Kingfisher is a small bird, 13 cm in length. The general colour of the upper parts of the adult bird is bright metallic blue. The head has a short crest of black and blue feathers, which gives rise to the scientific name. The face, cheeks and underparts are rufous and there are white patches on the throat and rear neck sides. The bill is black in young birds and reddish orange in adults; the legs are bright red. Sexes are similar, but juveniles are a duller version of the adult. The flight of the Malachite Kingfisher is rapid, the short rounded wings whirring until they appear a mere blur. It usually flies low over water.

Name: Alcedo cristata

Habitat: A common species of reeds and rank vegetation near slow moving water or ponds. Malachite Kingfisher has regular perches or stands from which it fishes. These are usually low over the water. It sits upright, its tail pointed downwards. It drops suddenly with a splash and usually returns at once with a struggling captive.

Distribution: Widely distributed in Africa south of the Sahara.

Diet: Fish, frogs, aquatic insects, crabs and tadpoles.

Reproduction: The Malachite Kingfisher breeds from August to November. The nest is a tunnel in a sandy bank, usually, though not always, over water. Both birds excavate. Most burrows incline upward before the nesting chamber is reached.
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2234 W: 188 N: 1912] (8073)
  • [2006-02-15 19:52]

Hello Liezel,
this is a beautiful shot, colors are outstanding and nice sharp details. I love the DOF wonderful composition.
Sky

A lovely, colorful bird, Liezel. Odd that they named it Malachite Kingfisher, when malachite is green. I look forward to seeing your next one.

this is loads better..a nice big shot..and the reed cluster is a good foil and suggestion of the local and vegetation..
the ones in egypt are black and white
great shot liezel
geof

Hello Liezel,
Very nice capture, I love the bright colors and composition. Very good details, maybe a little bit of noise in background, easy to delete.
Regards
Hernán

Fantastic capture. I might be tempted to soften the brightness just a little. The color is so intense it is almost hard to look at. Then again...it may be my monitor! I love the simple composition.

Wonderful capture, Liezel, the light is beautiful!!!

Hi Liezel,

Exellent shot with pervect collours.
great sharpness and a fine blurry BG.

Well done
TFS Thijs

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