Alcedo atthis

General description: 

Common kingfishers are renowned for their iridescent blue plumage. The entire upper portion of the bird: wings, back, and head are completely blue. The underbelly and a small patch underneath the eyes are rich chestnut. The throat and a small part of the side of the neck is bright white. They have small red feet. Their beaks are long, sharp and strong for the purpose of catching and holding prey. Males and females are very similar except for their beaks. A male’s beak is jet black, while the lower half of a female’s beak is chestnut. Juvenile’s are slightly more green and duller than adults.

Conservation status: 

Not Threatened.

Diagnostic description: 

Common kingfishers are renowned for their iridescent blue plumage. The entire upper portion of the bird: wings, back, and head are completely blue. The underbelly and a small patch underneath the eyes are rich chestnut. The throat and a small part of the side of the neck is bright white. They have small red feet. Their beaks are long, sharp and strong for the purpose of catching and holding prey. Males and females are very similar except for their beaks. A male’s beak is jet black, while the lower half of a female’s beak is chestnut. Juvenile’s are slightly more green and duller than adults.

Behaviour: 

Size: 

26 to 39 g; avg. 34 g Length 17 cm Wingspan 24 cm; avg. 26 cm

Phylogeny: 

Taxonomy:

    Gracula Atthis Linnaeus, 1758, Egypt. Forms a superspecies with A. semitorquata, with which formerly considered conspecific; also closely related to A. hercules, range of which overlaps in NE India and SE Asia. Populations in C Asia, Afghanistan and Kashmir sometimes separated as pallasii on basis of shorter bill and paler underparts, but they seem to fall within normal range of variation of nominate; proposed race japonica included within bengalensis. Seven subspecies currently recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Distribution: 

Subspecies and Distribution:

    *ispida Linnaeus, 1758 - S Norway, British Is and Spain (except S & E) E to W Russia and Romania; winters S to S Portugal, N Africa, Cyprus and Iraq. *atthis (Linnaeus, 1758) - NW Africa and S & E Spain E to Bulgaria, Afghanistan, NW India, C Siberia and NW China; winters S to Egypt, NE Sudan, Oman and Pakistan. * bengalensis J. F. Gmelin, 1788 - C India E to SE Asia, S & E China (including Hainan), SE Siberia, E Mongolia and Japan; winters S to Greater Sundas, N Sulawesi, Sula Is, N Moluccas and Philippines. *taprobana Kleinschmidt, 1894 - India S of R Godavari, and Sri Lanka. * floresiana Sharpe, 1892 - Bali and Lesser Sundas E to Wetar and Timor. * hispidoides Lesson, 1837 - Sulawesi, Moluccas and W Papuan Is, and coastal E New Guinea from R Sepik and R Aroa to D’Entrecasteaux Is and Louisiade and Bismarck Archipelagos. * salomonensis Rothschild & Hartert, 1905 - Solomon Is (Buka and Bougainville E to San Cristobal).
Habitat: 

Up to 190 m.They are found on the shores of lakes, ponds, streams, and in wetlands. They have even been known to fish in brackish waters, especially during the winter months, when other bodies of water may be frozen.

Trophic strategy: 

Common kingfishers hunt for prey from a perch above the water. Perches may be several centimeters to several meters above the water. When they see potential prey, they dive into the water, grab the prey, and fly back out. Eat mostly small fish, making up 60-67% of their diet. They may also eat small arthropods, such as Gammarus fasciatus. Crustacea consist of 5-33% of their diet. Common kingfishers have also been known to eat crabs and other small marine animals during the winter. Common kingfishers are very territorial, as are all kingfishers (Alcedinidae). This is mainly because they must eat around 60% of their body weight each day. They will even defend their area from their mates and offspring. For most of the year individuals are solitary, roosting in heavy cover next to their favourite hunting spot.

Reproduction: 

In about mid-March nesting begins. The male and female work together to dig a hole into a bank along a water source. Common kingfishers prefer steep banks. The holes are of various depths and are dug into various types of soil. Usually a hole between 15 and 30 cm long is dug, but on occasion some as deep as 1.2 meters have been discovered. They may nest in clay, rock, or sandy ground. Nests also vary in the distance they are above the water, with the distance varying from 0.5 to 37 meters above the water level. Both parents will raise and feed the young. However, the female will do most of the work. Common kingfishers will brood 2 to 3 clutches a year. These clutches consist usually of 6 or 7 eggs, but there may be as many as 10.

Taxonomic name: 
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith