Kingfishers are small unmistakable
bright blue and orange birds of slow moving or still water.
They fly rapidly, low over water, and hunt fish from riverside
perches, occasionally hovering above the water's surface. They
are vulnerable to hard winters and habitat degradation through
pollution or unsympathetic management of watercourses.
Kingfishers are amber listed because of their unfavourable
conservation status in Europe. They are also listed as a
Schedule 1 species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act
offering them additional protection.
The common
kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) seen in this picture, 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.
Like all
kingfishers, the common kingfisher is highly territorial;
since it must eat around 60% of its body weight each day, it
is essential to have control of a suitable stretch of river.
It is solitary for most of the year, roosting alone in heavy
cover. If another kingfisher enters its territory, both birds
display from perches, and fights may occur, in which a bird
will grab the other's beak and try to hold it under water.
As
mentioned earlier, the Kingfisher is a protected species and
as such photographing a Kingfisher within the vicinity of it's
nest requires a licence. Even then a hide should be used in
order to avoid disturbing the Kingfisher - they are very wary
of humans and if disturbed may result in a failed nest as the
bird leaves and will not return. |
