THE AFRICAN BROWN-BELLIED KINGFISHER 95 
THE AFRICAN BROWN-BELLIED KINGFISHER 
(Halcyon semicoeruleus) 
By Dr. V. G. L. van Someren, M.B.O.U. 
I have called this the 4 Brown-bellied Kingfisher 5 because 
I think this name to be more descriptive than that commonly 
used, namely ‘ White-headed Kingfisher,’ for there are two 
other kingfishers with whitish heads. 
This kingfisher is found both in East Africa and Uganda, 
but appears to be more plentiful in the former Protectorate. 
It is common in the Acacia scrub country and also in the 
forest clearings along the railway line. 
It is a handsome bird and most interesting. 
The sexes are alike except that the female is duller and 
has a grey head lightly streaked with brown. 
A point which possibly strikes the newcomer to this country 
is the fact that kingfishers are as a rule found at a great distance 
from water, and that their food does not consist of fish to 
any extent. 
The only two species of kingfishers which I have actually 
seen taking fish are the Great Spotted Kingfisher (Ceryle 
maxima) and the Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis). 
This latter fishes in a very characteristic manner, and a 
full description of it will be found in an article on the bird in 
‘ Studies of Bird-life in Uganda.’ 1 
The question may naturally be asked, 4 Why is it that these 
birds are found so far from water ? ’ The answer is this, 
that the greater proportion of the diet of kingfishers consists 
of grasshoppers and locusts, and these are more abundant in 
open grass and scrub country than on banks of rivers. 
It is true that one usually finds the small Purple Kingfishers 
1 Studies of Bird-life in Uganda. By Dr. R. A. L. van Someren and 
V. G. L. van Someren. London : John Bale, Sons & Danielsson, 1911. 
