Common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

The Common Kingfisher is one of Europe and Asia’s most iconic small water birds, admired for its dazzling colors and swift, darting flight. Belonging to the family Alcedinidae, it is a true specialist of rivers, streams, and lakes, where it hunts for fish with remarkable precision.

🐦 Identification

• Length: 16–17 cm
• Wingspan: 24–26 cm
• Weight: 30–40 g

Plumage:

• Upperparts: Bright metallic blue to turquoise
• Underparts: Rich orange-rust chest and belly
• Head: Blue crown with pale blue streaks
• Bill: Long, straight, and sharp — black in males; lower mandible partly orange in females
• Feet: Bright red or orange-red
• Eyes: Large, dark, adapted for excellent underwater vision

The combination of intense blue and orange makes it unmistakable.

🌿 Habitat

• Prefers clean, slow-moving or still freshwater bodies:
  • Rivers and streams
  • Lakes and ponds
  • Canals and wetlands
• Requires steep, exposed earthen banks for nesting burrows

🍽️ Diet

• Primarily feeds on:
  • Small fish (e.g. minnows, sticklebacks)
  • Aquatic insects (e.g. dragonfly larvae, beetles)
  • Occasionally small amphibians or crustaceans
• Hunts from perches above the water, diving headfirst with incredible speed and accuracy

🔁 Behavior & Life Cycle

Breeding:

• Season: Spring to late summer
• Both parents dig a burrow tunnel (~50–100 cm deep) into a vertical riverbank
• 2–3 broods per year possible
• Clutch: 5–7 eggs, incubated for ~19–21 days
• Both parents feed the chicks, which fledge after about 3–4 weeks

Hunting:

• Known for its “hover and dive” technique when no good perches are available
• Can swallow fish head-first to avoid fins catching in the throat

Territorial:

• Highly territorial year-round, especially during breeding season
• Fierce disputes between individuals over feeding grounds

🌍 Distribution

• Wide range across:
  • Europe
  • North Africa
  • Middle East
  • South and Southeast Asia
  • Extending into parts of East Asia
• Resident in much of its range, though northern populations may move south in winter if waters freeze.

🧬 Interesting Facts

• Despite being common in suitable habitats, it can be elusive due to its fast, low flight and nervous nature.
• Its intense blue color isn’t due to pigments but structural coloration — light scattering off microscopic feather structures.
• An indicator species for healthy, unpolluted freshwater systems.

🛡️ Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Least Concern
• Threats include:
  • Water pollution
  • Loss of nesting habitat (bank erosion or stabilization)
  • Disturbance from human activity
• Conservation efforts focus on preserving clean water bodies and protecting nesting sites.

The Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) remains one of the most beloved and beautiful birds in its range. Its sudden flashes of electric blue across quiet streams are unforgettable for birdwatchers and nature lovers, symbolizing both the beauty and fragility of freshwater ecosystems.