Biodiversity Encyclopedia Corythus Dog: Don't Look! I'm a Kingfisher!

Oct. 2, 2025, 8:59 a.m. Pets

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Vertebrates • Corythus dog

Biodiversity Encyclopedia

Corythus dog

Ceryle lugubris

Chordata, Aves, Passeriformes, Merops, Corythaeidae. Distribution in Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Sichuan, Yunnan, Hainan and other places

The first time you hear the name of the Corythus dog, many people will not associate it with kingfisher. Corythus dog is actually a name recognized by academics, and its name has been around for a long time. Li Shi Jin's 'Compendium of Materia Medica' (Birds-1·Corythus dog) already recorded: 'Dogs, tigers, and teachers are devourers of beasts. This bird hunts fish, hence this name. The bigger ones are called kingfishers, the smaller ones are called corythus dogs. Corythus dogs are everywhere by the water. As big as swallows, their beaks are long and pointed, their feet are red and short…'

That is to say, at that time, people called this fish-catching kingfisher the Corythus dog

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The most distinctive feature of the Corythus dog is its well-developed crest feathers, and its name comes from this. The body is mainly dominated by alternating conspicuous black and white. As a Corythus dog, the Corythus dog mainly eats fish and shrimp. They like to stand on rocks or tree stumps, staring intently at the water surface, and once they find prey, they will rush into the water to hunt and have a very high capture rate

The Corythus dog has a special hobby, that is, it likes to play with the prey before eating, just like a cat playing with a mouse. They will place the fish on a branch, then fiddle with it constantly, sometimes they will raise the fish high and then catch it with their mouths and swallow it

The breeding season for Corythus dogs is from May to June. The steep banks and cliffs of mountain streams and lakes are their main nesting choices. Compared to other birds where only female birds work hard, the Corythus dog couple is a model couple. As soon as they establish a couple relationship, whether it's building a nest or hunting, 'the two small ones' will always be inseparable, and very loving. When raising their offspring, the male bird will never miss it, not only rotating with the female to incubate eggs, but also taking on the heavy responsibilities of hunting and guarding

Biodiversity Encyclopedia

Cheng Xiaocen, born in 1939. Originally from Wenshan, Yunnan, Researcher Level Senior Engineer of the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Kunming Institute of Botany, member of the China Artists Association. Participated in the completion of multiple national and provincial-level scientific projects, drew illustrations for fifty-plus scientific works, held solo exhibitions in the China Art Museum, and published numerous personal monographs at home and abroad. He was commissioned by the State Postal Bureau to design nine sets of stamps, of which 'Azalea', 'Fir' and 'Orchid' were named as 'Stamps of the Year', 'Fir' won the Expert Award, 'Lily' was named 'Excellent Stamps of the Year', and 'Chinese Bird' was named 'International Intergovernmental Postal Union's Best Set'

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