Kingfishers are brilliantly coloured, and many of them have strident voices and also dramatic courtship displays. Malachite kingfishers are included in the group of “river kingfishers” within the Alcedinidae family. This small kingfisher is commonly seen near slow-moving rivers and ponds, often perched on aquatic vegetation or reeds. Its fishing and breeding behaviour is typical of this family. Malachite kingfishers are common across most parts of sub-Saharan Africa, with the population appearing stable and not threatened.