Common Kingfisher

Alcedo atthis

The aerodynamic shape of the Common Kingfisher's beak served as the real-world engineering inspiration for the nose cone of Japan's 500 Series Shinkansen bullet train.

Scientific name

Alcedo atthis

Taxonomy

Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Coraciiformes › Alcedinidae › Alcedo

IUCN Red List status

Least Concern

Population trend

decreasing

Biome

wetland

Habitat

Clear, slow-flowing or still freshwater rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds with overhanging branches and steep earthen banks.

Diet

Small freshwater fish (such as minnows and sticklebacks), aquatic insects, tadpoles, and freshwater shrimp.

Range

Europe, Asia, North Africa

Size

16-17 cm long, 24-26 cm wingspan, weight 35-45 g

Lifespan

2-5 years

Active

diurnal

Threats

Water pollution, loss of natural riverbanks due to canalization, human disturbance, and severe winter freezes.

Safe to approach?

Harmless to humans. They are extremely shy and easily startled; keep a respectful distance of at least 15 meters and avoid stepping on soft earth riverbanks where they excavate nesting tunnels.

The common kingfisher ( Alcedo atthis ) also known as the Eurasian kingfisher , and 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.

Photo: Frank Sengpiel, CC-BY, via iNaturalist

Plain-text version: /species/d81396b6-e0c5-43ae-89fd-70063ff2b7fc.md