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Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source ↗
Striped Kingfisher
Gestreepte Visvanger · Halcyon chelicuti
A small, rather plain kingfisher of dry woodland, brownish with a streaked head and a bill that is dark above and red below. It hunts grasshoppers and other insects from an exposed perch, dropping down to snatch them. Noisy for its size, it whistles loudly and fans its blue-marked wings while calling.
Log your Striped Kingfisher sighting — free →How to identify it
The smallest dry-land kingfisher, dull brown with a streaky cap and a dark-and-red bill, far plainer than its blue relatives.
Listen for its call
A loud, ringing 'cheer-cherrrrr' trill, often a pair calling together at dusk.
Where to see it in Kruger
Perches in open woodland and bushveld across the park, hunting insects from a high twig.
Did you know
For such a small bird it is very loud, whistling sharply and flicking its wings while it calls.
Often confused with
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