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A Common Kingfisher poised above a slow-moving stream, ready to dive.
Kingfishers
Common Kingfisher
A flash of electric blue and orange along a riverbank is the signature of this tiny fishing specialist. Kingfishers hunt small fish from a perch, diving with remarkable precision.
Alcedo atthis
Rivers Streams Lakes
Size
16-17 cm
Wingspan
24-26 cm
Weight
34-46 g
Lifespan
2 years
Diet
Small freshwater fish such as minnows and sticklebacks, plus aquatic insects and tadpoles.
Song & Call
A short, sharp, high-pitched 'peep' in flight.
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Speed
Visualizer
Recording by Marie-Lan Taÿ Pamart · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
How to identify
- Iridescent blue back
- Orange underparts
- Long black bill
Conservation
Amber-listed
Vulnerable to harsh winters and river pollution; protected by law in the UK.
