Common Kingfisher vs European Bee-eater
Alcedo atthis compared with Merops apiaster
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Common Kingfisher | European Bee-eater |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Alcedo atthis | Merops apiaster |
| Order | Coraciiformes | Coraciiformes |
| Family | Alcedinidae | Meropidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 17.0 cm (6.7 in) | 28.0 cm (11.0 in) |
| Wingspan | 25.0 cm (9.8 in) | 38.0 cm (15.0 in) |
| Weight | 36.0 g (1.27 oz) | 56.0 g (1.98 oz) |
| Diet | Small fish, aquatic insects, and crustaceans. Hunts from a low perch over water, diving headfirst … | Primarily bees, wasps, and hornets caught in flight. Removes stingers by beating prey against a … |
| Clutch Size | 3-10 | 4-10 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Common Kingfisher only
European Bee-eater only
None
Common Kingfisher
Clear, slow-flowing rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds with suitable perching and nesting banks. Requires clean water with good fish populations.
European Bee-eater
Open country with scattered trees, sandy banks, and river cliffs for nesting. Breeds in colonies in tunnels dug into earth banks.
Song & Call Comparison
Common Kingfisher
A sharp, penetrating 'chee' whistle given in flight, often the first indication of its presence. Short, shrill single note as it darts low over rivers. Contact call is a rippling …
European Bee-eater
A liquid, melodic 'pruik-pruik' or rolling 'prruup-pruup' in flight. Flocks give a distinctive far-carrying bubbling call audible before birds are seen. Considered a pleasant sound.
Geographic Range & Migration
Common Kingfisher
Widespread across Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Northern populations migrate south in winter.
European Bee-eater
Southern Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. Winters in tropical Africa. A long-distance migrant.
Conservation Status
Common Kingfisher
European Bee-eater
How to Tell Them Apart
Common Kingfisher
Brilliant electric blue upperparts and orange underparts. Blue-green crown with darker barring. White throat patch and cheek spots. A flash of blue in flight.
Long, straight, dagger-like dark bill — orange base on the lower mandible in females
European Bee-eater
Richly colored with a chestnut-brown crown and back, golden-yellow scapulars, turquoise-blue underparts, and a black eye stripe. Central tail feathers are elongated.
Long, slender, slightly decurved black bill
About These Birds
Common Kingfisher
The common kingfisher is a dazzling jewel of waterways, its iridescent blue plumage caused by light refraction in the feather structure rather than pigment. These birds inspired the design of the Shinkansen bullet train in Japan — the shape of their bill was copied to reduce sonic booms when trains exit tunnels.
European Bee-eater
The European bee-eater is one of the most colorful birds in Europe, displaying a rainbow palette of chestnut, gold, and turquoise. True to their name, bee-eaters specialize in catching venomous insects, skillfully removing the stinger before consumption. They nest in colonies, excavating tunnel burrows up to two meters into sandy banks.