{"id":521,"date":"2025-07-04T22:08:19","date_gmt":"2025-07-04T22:08:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wildpix.eu\/?p=521"},"modified":"2025-07-04T22:08:19","modified_gmt":"2025-07-04T22:08:19","slug":"common-kingfisher-alcedo-atthis-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wildpix.karits.eu\/index.php\/2025\/07\/04\/common-kingfisher-alcedo-atthis-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Download full size image<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Common Kingfisher<\/strong> 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<\/strong>, it is a true specialist of rivers, streams, and lakes, where it hunts for fish with remarkable precision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udc26 Identification<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  • Length<\/strong>: 16\u201317 cm<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Wingspan<\/strong>: 24\u201326 cm<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Weight<\/strong>: 30\u201340 g<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Plumage<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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    • Upperparts<\/strong>: Bright metallic blue to turquoise<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Underparts<\/strong>: Rich orange-rust<\/strong> chest and belly<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Head<\/strong>: Blue crown with pale blue streaks<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Bill<\/strong>: Long, straight, and sharp \u2014 black in males; lower mandible partly orange in females<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Feet<\/strong>: Bright red or orange-red<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Eyes<\/strong>: Large, dark, adapted for excellent underwater vision<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      The combination of intense blue and orange makes it unmistakable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      \ud83c\udf3f Habitat<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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      • Prefers clean, slow-moving or still freshwater bodies<\/strong>:\n
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        • Rivers and streams<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Lakes and ponds<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Canals and wetlands<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Requires steep, exposed earthen banks<\/strong> for nesting burrows<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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          \ud83c\udf7d\ufe0f Diet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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          • Primarily feeds on:\n
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            • Small fish<\/strong> (e.g. minnows, sticklebacks)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Aquatic insects<\/strong> (e.g. dragonfly larvae, beetles)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Occasionally small amphibians or crustaceans<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Hunts from perches above the water, diving headfirst with incredible speed and accuracy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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              \ud83d\udd01 Behavior & Life Cycle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

              Breeding<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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              • Season: Spring to late summer<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Both parents dig a burrow tunnel<\/strong> (~50\u2013100 cm deep) into a vertical riverbank<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • 2\u20133 broods per year possible<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Clutch: 5\u20137 eggs, incubated for ~19\u201321 days<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Both parents feed the chicks, which fledge after about 3\u20134 weeks<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                Hunting<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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                • Known for its “hover and dive” technique when no good perches are available<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Can swallow fish head-first to avoid fins catching in the throat<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                  Territorial<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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                  • Highly territorial year-round, especially during breeding season<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • Fierce disputes between individuals over feeding grounds<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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                    \ud83c\udf0d Distribution<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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                    • Wide range across:\n
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                      • Europe<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      • North Africa<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      • Middle East<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      • South and Southeast Asia<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      • Extending into parts of East Asia<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      • Resident in much of its range, though northern populations may move south in winter if waters freeze.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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                        \ud83e\uddec Interesting Facts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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                        • Despite being common in suitable habitats, it can be elusive due to its fast, low flight and nervous nature.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                        • Its intense blue color isn\u2019t due to pigments but structural coloration<\/strong> \u2014 light scattering off microscopic feather structures.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                        • An indicator species for healthy, unpolluted freshwater systems<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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                          \ud83d\udee1\ufe0f Conservation Status<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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                          • IUCN Red List<\/strong>: Least Concern<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                          • Threats include:\n
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                            • Water pollution<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
                            • Loss of nesting habitat (bank erosion or stabilization)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
                            • Disturbance from human activity<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                            • Conservation efforts focus on preserving clean water bodies<\/strong> and protecting nesting sites<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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                              The Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis<\/em>)<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n