Common Kingfisher

Alcedo atthis

Family: Kingfishers · Status: Common migrant · Size: 16–18 cm · Conservation: Least Concern

Range

Breeds across north Africa, Eurasia, the Indian subcontinent, China, Korea, Japan and mainland Southeast Asia; northerly populations winter south to Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Identification

Pale rufous underparts with a white-tinged throat, rufous ear-coverts, turquoise blue upperparts, male with black bill and female with red lower mandible. Larger size, turquoise blue upperparts separate it from Blue-eared Kingfisher.

Habitat

Streams, water bodies in open or wooded areas; also creeks in mangroves, coastal wetlands, and estuaries. Tends to avoid denser forest.

Behaviour

Perches above water; dives steeply to catch fish, beats prey against the perch before swallowing it head first.