Crested Kingfisher Megaceryle lugubris Scientific name definitions

38–43 cm; 230–280 g. Distinctive large kingfisher with long crest feathers. Adult male nominate race white loral spot, long feathers on forehead and crown blackish-grey, spotted with white, when erect two patches of shorter white feathers; white-speckled black malar stripe, white collar; upperparts barred black and white, tail black with 6–8 white bars; white underparts, black-speckled breastband with rufous-orange feathers admixed, flanks barred with grey; bill black, basal half pale blue, tip yellowish; iris dark brown; legs and feet dark olive-grey. Adult female like male, but no rufous on breast, has bright pink-cinnamon underwing-coverts. Juvenile like female, but side of neck, breast, flanks and undertail-coverts washed with pale rufous. Race guttulata smaller than nominate (except in W Himalayas), darker upperparts and breast, larger but fewer white spots in crest, back and wings; pallida paler grey upperparts.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Typical habitat is smaller, fast-flowing streams and rivers with rock or gravel base, in forested mountains and foothills; sometimes found at large rivers and river mouths; avoids rivers with bare open banks, but present along turbulent rapids. In Myanmar at up to 2800 m.

Altitudinal migration in Japan and the Himalayas, with movement to lower country in winter to avoid frozen rivers, but some birds remain in winter around hot springs in the Kitami Hills, in Hokkaido. Elsewhere seems to be sedentary, with only local movements. Previously breeding in Hong Kong, but now considered a passage migrant there, recorded in all months (peak in Apr–May), probably resulting from altitudinal movements. Vagrant to Korea and E Manchuria.

Fish 15–18 cm long, and crayfish. Perches on an overhanging branch, partly submerged log or rock , occasionally bobbing head, raising crest and flicking tail, then dives ­obliquely into water for a fish. Favoured stretches of river are fished repeatedly. Compared to Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), at sympatric areas in Japan present species hunts at sites with faster flowing water, dives from a higher position, takes fish in deeper water and prefers bigger preys (1 Kasahara, S. and Katoh, K. (2008). Food-niche differentiation in sympatric species of kingfishers, the Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis and the Greater Pied Kingfisher Ceryle lugubris. Orn. Sci.. 7(2): 123–124. Close ).

Loud “ket ket” in flight, also loud “ping”, deep croaks between paired birds, and raucous grating notes .

Lays in Mar–Jun in Nepal, in Apr in China and in Apr–Jul in Japan. Territory of a single bird may be 4 km². Nest-site a vertical bank, often sandy and at least 2 m high, by a stream, in a ravine or in forest, and can be 1·5 km from water; in Kyoto Prefecture (Japan), nests were usually in banks more than 2 m high, up to 1500 m from water and at least 1400 m apart; both sexes dig tunnel 2–3 m long and 10–15 cm wide, ending in a chamber 30–50 cm wide; in Kashmir, a pair dug 1 m of a tunnel in sandy soil in 20 hours; nest may be reused. Clutch 4–7 eggs, usually 4–5; apparently only female incubates, period not documented; both sexes feed the young, which fledge after c. 40 days.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Widespread and common in some areas, but numbers have declined sharply during 20th century in Hokkaido, and also in Hong Kong, where no longer breeds in Lam Tsun Valley. Deforestation and human disturbance are likely causes of population declines. In Kashmir, has sometimes been shot for preying on trout (Salmo).