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Photo: Steve Botham
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UK
Safari Tip:
Get help identifying wetland birds with the beautifully illustrated fold
out ID chart in the Nature shop - click
here
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Latin name: Alcedo atthis
Size: Approximately 13cms long. The beak adds a further 4cms.
Distribution: Found in most of Britain except the north of Scotland.
Months seen: All year.
Habitat: Lakes, ponds and slow moving rivers and streams. In winter they
are sometimes seen at the coast.
Food: Mostly fish and some insects.
Special features: Most sightings of kingfishers are very brief. Usually a
quick flash of the bright blue plumage whizzing low over the surface of water. If
you're lucky you might spot one perching, staring intently into the water as it
lines up to catch its next fish.
 The nest is a burrow excavated in a bank beside water. The eggs are laid between April and June.
When the chicks have fledged they only remain with the parents for a short time.
Usually just long enough to learn to catch their own fish. After this they're
driven away by the parents and have to find their own territories.
The male and female kingfisher look very similar, except that the beak of the male is all black, while the lower half of the females beak is a reddish- orange colour.
UK Safari Bird Section
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