Common Kingfisher

This sparrow-sized bird has the typical short-tailed, large-headed kingfisher profile; it has blue upperparts, orange underparts and a long bill. It feeds mainly on fish, caught by diving, and has special visual adaptions to enable it to see prey under water. The glossy white eggs are laid in a nest at the end of a burrow in a riverbank.

The Common Kingfisher is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

The Common Kingfisher’s closest relatives in the genus are three similar blue-backed, orange-breasted species, the Blue-eared, Half-collared and Blyth's Kingfishers. Description - This species has the typical short-tailed, dumpy-bodied large-headed and long-billed kingfisher shape. The adult male of the western European subspecies, A. a. ispida has green-blue upperparts with pale azure-blue back and rump, a rufous patch by the bill base, and a rufous ear-patch. More

very poorly represented with only one common kingfisher (Common Kingfisher and Belted Kingfisher respectively), and a couple of uncommon or very local species each: (Ringed Kingfisher and Green Kingfisher in the southwest USA, Pied Kingfisher and White-throated Kingfisher in SE Europe). The six species occurring in the Americas are four closely related green kingfishers in the genus Chloroceryle and two large crested kingfishers in the genus Megaceryle. Even tropical South America has only five species plus wintering Belted Kingfisher. More

Common Kingfishers have rapid, whirring wing beats that produce low, quick flight and they have loud, high-pitched vocalizations. Habitat Common Kingfishers are found near lakes, ponds, canals, streams and slow moving rivers of Europe, north Africa and Asia. Each individual secures a territory with an adequate food supply and this is usually a stretch of river between 1 and 3 kms (0.6 - 1.9 miles) in length. More

Common Kingfishers are not as common in Singapore as they are in temperate countries. Here, other Kingfishers are more likely to be encountered. common kingfisher on a perchCommon Kingfishers are among the few Kingfishers that specialise in fishing. They are well known for plunging into the water to catch their prey: mainly small fish (60%) and prawns (30%), although they do pick off crabs and small mudskippers from mudflats. More

Common Kingfisher has wide range, where several subspecies are living. Adult male has turquoise-green upperparts with brighter turquoise rump. Tail is blue. Wings are darker blue, finely spotted with turquoise on greater coverts. The underparts are rufous-orange, slightly darker on flanks. On the head, crown and malar stripe are blue, finely spotted with paler blue and black. Lores and ear-coverts are rufous-orange. We can see a black eye-stripe. Chin, throat and neck-sides are white. More

Physical appearance : Common Kingfisher is 17 cm in length and weigh around 30- 34 g. Their wingspan is 30 inches long. Their underparts are bright orange in colour with the white bib. Their wings are bluish green and the tail is bright blue in colour. They have blue head with the white mark on either side of it. They have short legs which are colored in orange. The wings and tails are short while the bill is long and pointed. More

in India : Common Kingfisher is mostly found in the state of Haryana in India Common Kingfisher can also be spotted in the Corbett National Park, Bandhavgarh National Park and Sundarbans National Park in India. Habitat : Common Kingfisher prefers to live near streams, slow flowing rivers, ponds and lakes. Diet : Common kingfisher feeds on aquatic insects, small fish and prawns. They mostly hunt during the morning or evening hours. More

Common Kingfisher - Alcedo atthis | White-throated Kingfisher - Halcyon smyrnensis | Pied Kingfisher - Ceryle rudis | Kingfishers photography More

The Common Kingfisher or the European Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), has a very wide distribution over Eurasia and Africa. This striking blue bird lives primarily besides water bodies. More

The Common Kingfisher is found throughout Sri Lanka, although it is scarce at the highest elevations. It is not as common as the White-throated kingfisher but can be found at most village tanks (man made lake). More images and info inside. Click the images on this post to view larger versions. It is easy to identify this species of Kingfisher due to its small size and overall blue plumage but may be confused with the extremely rare Blue-eared Kingfisher. More

The Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), is one of Britains most brightly coloured and interesting birds. Kingfishers are widespread, especially in central and southern England, becoming less common further north, however, following some declines last century, they are currently increasing in their range in Scotland. Kingfishers are found by still or slow flowing water such as lakes, canals and rivers in lowland areas. In winter, some individuals move to estuaries and the coast. More

Common Kingfishers are important members of ecosystems and good indicators of freshwater community health. The highest densities of breeding birds are found in habitats with clear water, which permits optimal prey visibility, and trees or shrubs on the banks. These habitats have also the highest quality of water, so the presence of this bird confirms the standard of the water. More

Common Kingfisher and the fish that got away - Posted by BESG on 1 February 10, Monday Contributed by Lee Tiah Khee & John Vickerman Lee Tiah Khee photographed a Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) catching a little fish. The kingfisher then flew it to its original perch to enjoy its meal (above left). Unfortunately, in trying to manipulate the fish for swallowing (above right), the fish slipped free and fell back into the water (below left). More

The Common Kingfisher is a small sparrow-sized kingfisher that can be found across Europe, Asia and Northern Africa. It is resident in much of its range, but migrates from places where rivers freeze in winter. You'll find Common Kingfishers perched 3 to 6 feet above water with its bill pointing down as it searches for prey. It bobs its head when food is detected to gauge the distance, then plunghes steeply down to seize its prey usually no deeper than 19 inches below the surface. More

Common kingfisheredit this page = Birds Wiki, the online field guide that you can edit The common kingfisher, or Alcedo atthis, is a fish eating bird found in Europe and northern Africa. More

Common KingfisherCommon Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) Czech Republic - August 2005Photo no. More

The Common Kingfisher is a small (15 cm.) kingfisher with a pale bright blue back, darker greenish-blue wings, a bluish head barred black, chestnut underparts and white throat. There is a chestnut patch below the eye, and a small white patch on the side of the neck. The feet are bright red, and the bill is black in males, while females have a reddish lower mandible. The Common Kingfisher prefers freshwater habitats such as ponds, streams, rivers, lakes and marshes. More

Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis = * Home Expand Log in Menu item Register Menu item Log out Menu item Change login details Menu item Why register? Expand UK & Ireland Menu item Birding sites More

* Common Kingfisher ("Martin pescatore"), Villa Ada, Roma1:10 * Ajouter à la file d'attente Ajoutée à la file d'attente Common Kingfisher ("Martin pescatore"), Villa A... More

SmugMugHome Login Help View Cart Common Kingfisher Common Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis ssp. gallery pages: 1 Rams, 12.11.2009 © Abdulrahman Al Tenaiji - adult female Rams, 12.11.2009 © Abdulrahman Al Tenaiji - adult female Khor Zawra, 09.10.2009 © Ahmed Al Ali - adult female Khor Zawra, 09.10.2009 © Ahmed Al Ali - adult female Ras al Khaimah, 23.03.2009 © Omar Al Shamsi - adult male Ras al Khaimah, 23.03. More

greet the Common Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris), an uncommon winter visitor to Singapore. “It was late this morning at the Japanese Gardens, that I had the opportunity of witnessing the violent way that a Common Kingfisher dispatched with it’s catch. “The bird was at it’s usual post, these birds have a habit of going back to it’s favorite perch. More