Common kingfisher

Common kingfisher
Male
England
Female
Kecskemét, Hungary
Both A. a. ispida
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Alcedinidae
Subfamily: Alcedininae
Genus: Alcedo
Species:
A. atthis
Binomial name
Alcedo atthis
  Breeding range
  Resident all year round
  Non-breeding range
Synonyms

Gracula atthis Linnaeus, 1758

The common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), also known as the Eurasian kingfisher and river kingfisher, is a small kingfisher with seven subspecies recognized within its wide distribution across Eurasia and North Africa. It is resident in much of its range, but migrates from areas where rivers freeze in winter.

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 adaptations 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.

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Alcedo atthis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22683027A89575948. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22683027A89575948.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.