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Common Kingfisher

Alcedo atthis

Least Concern

लंबाई

17.0 cm

पंखों का फैलाव

25.0 cm

वजन

36.0 g

कुल

Alcedinidae

गण

Coraciiformes

के बारे में

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.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value	Imperial
Body Length	17.0 cm	6.7 in
पंखों का फैलाव	25.0 cm	9.8 in
वजन	36.0 g	1.27 oz

पहचान

पंख

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.

चोंच

Long, straight, dagger-like dark bill — orange base on the lower mandible in females

Habitat & Range

Clear, slow-flowing rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds with suitable perching and nesting banks. Requires clean water with good fish populations.

🌿 Wetland 🌾 Grassland 🏖️ Coastal

भौगोलिक वितरण

Widespread across Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Northern populations migrate south in winter.

Diet & Feeding

Small fish, aquatic insects, and crustaceans. Hunts from a low perch over water, diving headfirst to catch prey with precision.

संरक्षण स्थिति

Least Concern

IUCN Red List

व्यवहार और प्रजनन

घोंसला बनाना

Nest type: BU. Incubation: 19-21 days. Fledging: 23-27 days.

अंडों की संख्या

3-10

ध्वनि

गीत

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 'chii-kee'.

वर्गिकी

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
गण	Coraciiformes (Kingfishers & Rollers)
कुल	Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
Genus	Alcedo
प्रजातियां	Alcedo atthis

Names in Other Languages

Language	Name
German	Eisvogel
Spanish	Martín Pescador Común

Distribution

Common Kingfisher has been recorded in 6 countries.

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उपस्थित Not recorded

countries highlighted

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇱🇺 Luxembourg 🇳🇴 Norway 🇷🇺 Russia 🇸🇪 Sweden

External Databases

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले प्रश्न

What does the Common Kingfisher eat?

Small fish, aquatic insects, and crustaceans. Hunts from a low perch over water, diving headfirst to catch prey with precision.

Where does the Common Kingfisher live?

Clear, slow-flowing rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds with suitable perching and nesting banks. Requires clean water with good fish populations.

Is the Common Kingfisher endangered?

The Common Kingfisher has a conservation status of Least Concern.

How does the Common Kingfisher nest?

Nest type: BU. Incubation: 19-21 days. Fledging: 23-27 days.

What does the Common Kingfisher sound like?

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 'chii-kee'.

How big is the Common Kingfisher?

The Common Kingfisher has a body length of 17.0 cm, wingspan of 25.0 cm, weight of 36.0 g.

What order and family does the Common Kingfisher belong to?

The Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) belongs to the order Coraciiformes and the family Alcedinidae.