Kingfisher
Kingfisher Facts
| Size | 6.2-7 inches (16-18 cm) |
| Speed | Unknown |
| Weight | 1.2-1.4 ounces (35-40 grams) |
| Lifespan | 1-5 years |
| Food | Fish, insects, frogs, snails |
| Predators | Snakes |
| Habitat | Europe, Asia, Africa |
| Order | Coraciiformes |
| Family | Kingfishers |
| Subfamily | River kingfishers |
| Scientific name | Alcedo atthis |
| Characteristics | Small bird with turquoise and orange feathers |
Main Characteristics
The kingfisher is a beautiful bird with a long, strong beak and a large head. It has a small body, short legs, and short tail feathers. This bird is well-known for diving into the water in a steep plunge to catch fish. In Central Europe, there is only one species called Alcedo atthis. Its back is adorned with blue to turquoise shimmering feathers, while its belly is orange. This profile focuses on that species.
Species
The kingfisher family consists of 120 species, categorized into three groups: the river kingfishers, the tree kingfishers (kookaburras), and the water kingfishers. Kingfishers are so small and swift that they are sometimes mistaken for hummingbirds, although they are not closely related.
Distribution and Habitat
In Germany and the UK, there is only one species of kingfisher: the turquoise-orange Alcedo atthis. It inhabits clear, calm waters such as slow-flowing rivers, lakes, ponds, and canals with overhanging branches. In the USA, the belt kingfisher is the most common. In Australia, the most recognized species include the laughing kookaburra, the azure kingfisher, and the kookaburras.
Way of Life
Kingfishers are solitary birds that are active during the day. They spend most of their time perched on branches, watching for prey. They are particularly easy to observe in autumn and winter when the trees are bare.
Anatomy and Appearance
Size and Weight
The smallest kingfisher is the African dwarf kingfisher, measuring 3.9 inches (10 cm) in length and weighing only 0.4 ounces (12 grams). The largest is the laughing kookaburra, which reaches 16.5 inches (42 cm) in length and weighs one pound (465 grams). The kingfisher found in Central Europe measures 6.2-7 inches (16-18 cm) and weighs between 1.2-1.4 ounces (35-40 grams).
Colorful Plumage
Kingfishers boast a stunning plumage. Their feathers on the head, back, and wings are shades of blue, green, or turquoise. The chest and belly display hues ranging from orange to gold. The vibrant colors and their shimmer are not due to pigments in the feathers; instead, they result from light refraction. Consequently, the color of the plumage shifts depending on how sunlight strikes it.
Long Beak
Kingfishers possess a very short, compact body, yet they have a notably long beak. Measuring 1.3-1.5 inches (3.5-4 cm) in length, it resembles a dagger. This beak is perfectly designed for catching fish.
Strong Feet
Kingfishers spend most of their time perched on branches or stems, which is why they do not require long legs. However, their feet are quite strong, allowing them to grip securely.
Diet
Kingfishers are carnivorous. Their diet primarily consists of fish, but they also occasionally consume insects, tadpoles, and small frogs. In winter, they remain near large bodies of water that do not freeze. Although their beak is robust, they cannot break through an ice-covered surface with it.
Behavior
Hunting Strategy
Kingfishers employ a clever hunting strategy. While their prey swims unsuspectingly in the water, they comfortably perch on a branch above, using their keen eyesight to monitor the situation. Upon spotting a tasty fish, they nosedive into the water like an feathered darts, snatch it with their beak, and return to a branch. There, they strike the fish against the branch until it is stunned, then swallow it headfirst.
Prey Size
Kingfishers also catch fish that seem far too large for their beaks. The kingfisher in Central Europe, for instance, has a body length of only 6.2-7 inches (16-18 cm) and a beak that measures 1.3-1.5 inches (3.5-4 cm) long. However, it can swallow fish that are 3.9-5.1 inches (10-13 cm) in size.
Preening and Beak Care
Kingfishers take care of their appearance. It's no surprise given their magnificent feathers. They enjoy taking a thorough bath and then preen their plumage while letting it dry in the sun. Their beaks are also frequently maintained. They sharpen them on branches, first one side, then the other, until they are satisfied with the result.
Sounds
The call of the kingfisher sounds like a high, short "tiit" or "tssii".
Senses and Abilities
Sense of Sight
Kingfishers possess an excellent sense of sight. They can even detect movements underwater. However, catching fish is not as easy as it seems. Water acts like a magnifying glass, making everything appear closer than it actually is. Therefore, before diving, they carefully calculate their flight path. This way, they rarely miss their prey. The sacred kingfisher can even spot prey from up to 295 feet (90 meters) away.
Enemies and Threats
Natural Enemies
• Predators
An adult kingfisher has little to fear. It escapes most predators by perching on a high branch. Only birds of prey like sparrowhawks, goshawks, and peregrine falcons, as well as owls like the tawny owl, can catch it. A much greater threat comes from egg thieves: rats, weasels, stoats, foxes, domestic cats, crows, magpies, raccoons, and snakes. They not only prey on the eggs but also on the chicks.
• Harsh Winters
Particularly harsh winters pose a significant danger, as too many bodies of water freeze over, preventing them from hunting for food. They starve.
Human Impact
• Water Pollution
Kingfishers ingest environmental toxins through their food, which can lead to their death. This is why they are only found in areas where the waters are clean and free from pollutants.
• Recreational Activities
Many people have a strong desire to swim and relax by rivers and lakes – after all, our world is becoming increasingly hectic and stressful. However, our presence causes great stress for kingfishers. We are like large predators to them. When we are nearby, they breed less frequently, do not return to their chicks (which then starve), and become easier targets for birds of prey.
• River Straightening
Kingfishers need vertical, sandy, or clayey steep banks for nesting. Steep banks only form where rivers are allowed to flow freely. This is becoming increasingly rare in Germany. Most rivers are straightened and/or confined to prevent flooding and facilitate navigation.
Conservation Status
Currently, the kingfisher is (still) not threatened. However, in Germany, it is becoming increasingly rare. In Austria and Switzerland, it is already officially classified as threatened. In French Polynesia, on the island of Java, in Micronesia, and Papua New Guinea, there are even species that are on the brink of extinction.
Reproduction
Mating Season
Kingfishers mate between February and March. The males try to win over the females by gifting them small fish. Once a pair is formed, they stay together for life.
Nest Building
Kingfishers do not construct nests from branches and twigs. Instead, they dig breeding tubes into the sandy, clayey soil of unvegetated steep banks using their beaks. The entrance to a breeding tube is a clearly visible, slightly oval hole with a diameter of 3.1 inches (8 cm), located at the upper part of the steep bank. The breeding tube can be up to 3.2 feet (100 cm) long, providing the chicks with protection from predators and adverse weather conditions.
Eggs and Chicks
Kingfishers breed 2-3 times a year. Each clutch consists of 6-8 white eggs. The female and male take turns incubating them for a period of 19-21 days. After this, the chicks hatch. However, 70-80% do not survive their first year. Chicks that cannot yet fly often perish due to flooding that enters the breeding tubes. Many are also preyed upon by predators, as the parents increasingly struggle to find suitable steep banks. They are left with no choice but to nest in locations that are easily accessible to predators.
Fun Facts
Kingfishers Fight Predators
The sacred kingfisher is very aggressive and fearless. It defends its nesting site even against animals much larger than itself, such as weasels, domestic cats, and domestic dogs.
