River kingfishers

The river kingfishers or Alcedinidae, are one of the three families of bird in the kingfisher group.

The family is widespread through Africa, through east and south Asia as far as Australia, with one species, the River Kingfisher or European Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) also appearing in Europe and northern Asia. The origin of the family is thought to have been in Asia.

The taxonomy of the family is uncertain at present: it includes 22 to 24 species in 2 to 4 genera. The uncertaintity arises from two small African species. The Dwarf Kingfisher is sometimes placed in the monospecific genus Myioceyx, and sometimes with Pigmy Kingfisher in Ispidina.

Species list:

• Blyth's Kingfisher, Alcedo hercules
• European Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis
• Half-collared Kingfisher, Alcedo semitorquata
• Shining-blue Kingfisher, Alcedo quadribrachys
• Blue-eared Kingfisher, Alcedo meninting
• Azure Kingfisher, Alcedo azurea
• Bismarck Kingfisher, Alcedo websteri
• Blue-banded Kingfisher, Alcedo euryzona
• Indigo-banded Kingfisher, Alcedo cyanopecta
• Silvery Kingfisher, Alcedo argentata
• Malachite Kingfisher, Alcedo cristata
• Malagasy Kingfisher, Alcedo vintsioides
• White-bellied Kingfisher, Alcedo leucogaster
• Small Blue Kingfisher, Alcedo coerulescens
• Little Kingfisher, Alcedo pusilla

• Black-backed Kingfisher, Ceyx erithacus
• Philippine Kingfisher, Ceyx melanurus
• Sulawesi Kingfisher, Ceyx fallax
• Rufous-backed Kingfisher, Ceyx rufidorsa
• Variable Kingfisher, Ceyx lepidus

• Madagascar Pygmy-Kingfisher, Ispidina madagascariensis
• African Pygmy-Kingfisher, Ispidina picta
• Dwarf Kingfisher, Ispidina lecontei