The common kingfisher is a small, brightly coloured bird, with a large head and short tail. It is often spotted as a flash of metallic blue, as it hunts over rivers and streams. It is a fearsome predator and will tackle fish much larger and heavier than itself, diving at lightning speed headfirst into the water to catch its prey. The population has been in decline since the 1970s, mainly due to river pollution and habitat destruction.
Breeding birds: 3.800 – 6.400 pairs
Family: Kingfishers
The adult male kingfisher is a striking bird with turquoise-green upperparts and a brighter turquoise rump. Its wings are a darker blue, with turquoise spots on the greater coverts, while the tail is a vivid blue. The underparts are a vibrant orange, with slightly darker flanks.
The head has a blue crown, forehead, and nape, speckled with fine spots of lighter blue and black. The lores and ear coverts are orange, while the chin, throat, and sides of the neck are white. It has a long, pointed black bill, dark brown eyes with a black eye stripe, and bright orange legs and feet.
The female kingfisher is similar in appearance to the male but can be distinguished by her orange lower mandible.
Juvenile kingfishers are duller in colour compared to adults. They have greener upperparts, paler underparts, and greyish legs and feet.
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Kingfishers are monogamous birds that breed between March and April, typically in sandy banks along streams and rivers. Occasionally, they may nest in a hole in a tree or wall. Each season, they produce 2 to 3 broods. The nest consists of a chamber at the end of a tunnel, which is excavated by both parents. While the nest cavity is unlined, it gradually accumulates fish remains and pellets over time.
A typical clutch consists of 6 to 7 white eggs, which are incubated by both the male and female for 19 to 21 days, with the female usually brooding during the night. Once hatched, the chicks are fed by both parents and fledge after 23 to 24 days. Around 4 days after fledging, they perform their first dive and soon leave the breeding territory. Kingfishers reach sexual maturity at one year.
Kingfishers eat small fish and crustaceans such as prawns and crabs. They will also catch insects in flight.
Kingfishers are seen across much of the UK particularly in southern and central England. They are less common further north although their range is increasing. They can be spotted by slow flowing water such as lakes, canals, rivers and streams.
Kingfishers may occasionally visit garden ponds.
Kingfishers close their eyes when diving to catch fish, relying on a split-second judgement to accurately gauge the depth of their prey before plunging into the water.
One Response
I spotted a couple of Kingfishers patrolling the Muckle Burn near Forres in Morayshire on 11 July 2025.