Return to Perch

The common or Eurasian Kingfisher is the only resident Kingfisher in the UK. It can be spotted alongside waterways across most of the country. The sparrow-sized bird is unmistakable due to its vivid blue upperparts and bright orange breast. Its long bill is ideally suited to catching the fish that make up almost all of the birds diet.

Kingfishers will often sit on a favourite perch above a river or canal and wait for the perfect opportunity to dive down onto their prey. It has a special visual adaptation to enable it to see under water. Kingfishers usually nest in small burrows in river banks and they lay up to ten glossy white eggs, in a good year can raise two or more broods. 

This particular Kingfisher was taken on a private farm in Worcestershire, its distinctive black bill shows that this is a male (the females have a distinctive orange lower part to theirs). It is a wild bird, but with patience will always return to the same spot along the river to fish.