Wildlife
Kingfishers are one of Britain’s most interesting birds. Their vivid colour is iridescence, not pigment – the pigment is actually dark brown! Interference between different wavelengths of light reflected from different layers of the feathers produces blues, greens and oranges. The feathers on the bird’s back can seem blue or green depending on the angle at which they are viewed.
Scientific name: Alcedo atthis
Rank: Species
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Kingfisher strike
The skill and beauty of kingfishers in action captured in slow motion close ups.
The skill and beauty of kingfishers in action captured in slow motion close ups.
Kingfisher fledging
The kingfisher chicks fledge in the final diary instalment.
The chicks fledge in the final instalment of Ian Llewellyn's kingfisher diaries.
Kingfisher family life
Rare footage of kingfishers mating.
Rare footage of kingfisher's mating from wildlife cameraman Ian Llewellyn.
Summer job
Kingfishers work hard all summer to supply their chicks with 5,000 minnows.
Kingfishers work hard all summer to supply their chicks with 5,000 minnows.
Nesting kingfishers
A kingfisher couple builds a nest in a favourite spot.
A kingfisher couple builds a nest in a favourite spot.
Species range provided by WWF's Wildfinder.
The Kingfisher can be found in a number of locations including: Africa, Asia, China, Europe, Indian subcontinent, Mediterranean, Russia, United Kingdom, Wales, Ynys-hir nature reserve. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.
The following habitats are found across the Kingfisher distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.
Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.
Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web
Least Concern
Year assessed: 2009
Classified by: IUCN 3.1
The Common Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis, also known as Eurasian Kingfisher or 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 adaptions 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.
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The Wensum Kingfishers In 2010 Springwatch cameraman Ian Llewellyn followed a family of kingfishers on the Wensum river in Norfolk.
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Life in slow motion
Slow motion filming techniques transform amazing wildlife moments into full scale events, and simple action into incredibly detailed video sequences.
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Flooded grassland
Lakes and ponds
Mediterranean forest
Rivers and streams
Broadleaf forest
Coniferous forest
Temperate grassland
Shedding body parts
Helpless young
Carnivorous
Adapted to flying
Burrower
Acoustic communication
Monogamous
Egg layer
Parental investment
Predator
Territorial
Visual communication