# 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.

- **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.

## About

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.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/d81396b6-e0c5-43ae-89fd-70063ff2b7fc
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/2599
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcedo atthis
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/33183952/medium.jpg (Frank Sengpiel, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.