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The Giant Kingfisher, Megaceryle maxima, stands as Africa's largest kingfisher, boasting a length of 42–46 cm. It is adorned with a large, shaggy crest and a robust black bill. The plumage is characterized by fine white spots set against a black backdrop on the upperparts.
Males can be distinguished by a chestnut breast band and predominantly white underparts with dark flank barring. Females, on the other hand, display a white-spotted black breast band and a chestnut belly. The subspecies M. m. gigantea, found in forests, is darker, less spotted above, and exhibits more barring below than the nominate race.
The nominate subspecies, M. m. maxima, favors wooded savanna environments, while M. m. gigantea is more inclined towards tropical rainforests.
This resident breeding bird is widespread across most of Africa south of the Sahara Desert, with the exception of the arid southwest.
