malachite II | watercolour

Second artwork in the ‘Malachite’ series.

The malachite kingfisher may be tiny, but it’s one of the most mesmerising hunters on African waterways. Perched on a thin, wavering reed, it performs a remarkable trick:
its body sways, but its head stays perfectly still. This incredible steadiness comes from highly specialised neck muscles and lightning-fast reflexes. Even when the reed bends in the slightest breeze, the kingfisher keeps its eyes locked onto the water below, turning its head into a stabilised targeting system. Once it spots a small fish, tadpole, or aquatic insect, the bird transforms from stillness into speed. It leans forward, calculates distance with pinpoint accuracy, and then dives like a tiny arrow, beak first, barely disturbing the water. With a quick snap, it grabs its prey and returns to its perch — often giving it a few sharp shakes or bashes to subdue it before swallowing. Brilliantly coloured, exquisitely balanced, and unbelievably precise, the malachite kingfisher is a miniature masterpiece of skill and adaptation along Africa’s rivers and reedbeds.