The common kingfisher is a small, brightly coloured bird, with a large head and short tail. It is often spotted as a flash of metallic blue, as it hunts over rivers and streams. It is a fearsome predator and will tackle fish much larger and heavier than itself, diving at lightning speed headfirst into the water to catch its prey. The population has been in decline since the 1970s, mainly due to river pollution and habitat destruction.
Breeding birds: 3.800 – 6.400 pairs
Family: Kingfishers
Adult male kingfishers have turquoise-green upperparts with a brighter turquoise rump. The wings are darker blue with turquoise spots on the greater coverts, and the tail is blue. The underparts are orange with slightly darker flanks.
On the head the crown, forehead, and nape are blue with fine spots of lighter blue and black. The lores and ear coverts are orange and the chin, throat, and the sides the neck are white. They have a long, pointed black bill, dark brown eyes with a black eye stripe, and bright orange legs and feet.
Female kingfishers are similar to males except they have an orange lower mandible.
Juveniles are duller than the adults and have greener upperparts, paler underparts, and greyish legs and feet.
Kingfishers are monogamous and breed between March and April in sandy banks alongside streams and rivers, although they may occasionally use a hole in a tree or a wall. They produce 2 or 3 broods a season. The nest is a chamber at the end of a tunnel which is excavated by both parents. The nest cavity is unlined but will accumulate fish remains and pellets over time.
Kingfishers lay 6-7 white eggs which are incubated by the male and female for 19-21 days with the female usually brooding at night. Chicks are fed by both parents and fledge at 23-24 days. They perform their first dive about 4 days later and leave the breeding territory soon after. They are sexually mature at one year.
Kingfishers eat small fish and crustaceans such as prawns and crabs. They will also catch insects in flight.
Kingfishers are seen across much of the UK particularly in southern and central England. They are less common further north although their range is increasing. They can be spotted by slow flowing water such as lakes, canals, rivers and streams.
Kingfishers may occasionally visit garden ponds.
Kingfishers close their eyes when they dive to catch fish. They make an accurate judgement of the depth of the fish in a split-second before diving in.
2 Responses
Visit the Saxon mill between Warwick & Kenilworth. Walk beside the mill ( good grub ) follow the path that is on the river bank. Sit yourself down opposite Guys Cliffe house ruins & you will see plenty .. This is my favourite spot to see them. Once you see them, they will have you gripped.
My wife longs to see a Kingfisher. Where can we go to see one and do you know if there are organisations that will take her to see one – for a fee of course.