We are extremely fortunate to have 10 species of Kingfisher in South Africa. I have been able to photograph 7 of them below. Kingfishers are conspicuous birds thanks to their bright colours and noisy, active habits. There are ten species that occur in Southern Africa. They vary in size from the minute 12 cm Pygmy kingfisher to the 45 cm large Giant kingfisher. Kingfishers enjoy well-wooded areas in the vicinity of water but not all kingfishers eat fish! The Malachite, Giant, and Pied kingfishers are piscivores (fish-eaters) while the Striped, Woodlands, Brown-hooded and Pygmy kingfishers eat invertebrates including insects, lizards, frogs and even snakes, scorpions, rodents and the occasional bat. Insects are often more numerous in the vicinity of water and proximity to water is advantageous for hygiene purposes too as they love to bath and preen themselves.