The Príncipe Kingfishers (Corythornis cristatus nais, formerly: Alcedo nais or Alcedo leucogaster nais) are also known as Malachite Kingfishers or Principe Island Malachite Kingfishers.
These River Kingfishers are native to the island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe located in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial coast of Africa.
They are mostly found in mangroves, along streams, rivers, lakes, marshes, and lagoons, below 4,100 feet (1,250 meters).
Their diet mostly consists of fish, crabs & insects.
Taxnomy
The Principe Kingfisher was previously considered a subspecies of the White-bellied Kingfisher (Corythornis leucogaster); however, this race is now considered a subspecies of Malachite Kingfisher (Corythornis cristatus) instead. (Ref. Melo, M., and J. Fuchs. 2008. Phylogenetic relationships of the Gulf of Guinea Alcedo kingfishers. Ibis 150: 633-639).
Alternate (Global) Names
Czech: ledňáček principeský … Danish: Principéisfugl, Príncipeisfugl … Estonian: príncipe jäälind … French: Martin-pêcheur de Principé… German: Principezwergfischer, Weißbauch-Zwergfischer … Italian: Martin pescatore di Principe … Japanese: kanmurikawasemi, purinshipekanmurikawasemi … Dutch: Principé-IJsvogel, Principe’s Ijsvogel … Polish: zimorodek zóltobrzuchy, zimorodek żółtobrzuchy … Slovak: rybárik ryšavý … Spanish: Martín Pescador de Príncipe … Swedish: Principekungsfiskare
Additional Web Resources:
Kingfisher Information … Kingfisher Species Photo Gallery
