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Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) Alternate name(s): "Eurasian Kingfisher", "River Kingfisher" German name(s): "Eisvogel" Size: 16-18 cm (incl. bill, 4 cm); wing span: 25-30 cm Body mass: 34-46 g Wing loading [g/cm2]: 0.25-0.30

Europe: Family Group 14 Family Group 14 Table Common Kingfisher European Bee-eater European Roller Common Swift Pallid Swift Alpine Swift Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names European birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Common Kingfishers are small kingfishers. The plumage on the back is glossy. The crown, sides of the head, nape of the neck and wings are vermiculated turquoise-blue to greyish-blue, depending on race. The back and uppertail are light-blue. Below orange ear coverts and lores, they show a grey chin, flanked by consecutive white, turquoise-blue/greyish-blue and white malar stripes. The entire front, from below the chin, and sides are bright-orange. The irises are black. The disproportionately long, strong bill is all-black in males in breeding plumage. It has a red base to the lower mandible in females. The very short, stumpy legs are bright-red in adults and greyish-orange in juveniles. Juveniles also have duller colours than adults.

Taxonomy, classification See Common Kingfisher at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Common Kingfisher is available HERE . There are about 12 recognized races of Common Kingfishers. Their overall distribution is wide-ranging, from western Europe and North-west Africa in the West via central, southern and south-eastern Europe into Asia Minor and the Middle East, parts of central Asia and on via South-east Asia to north-eastern China, south-eastern Russia, Korea and Japan in the East (for details see, e.g., Wikipedia. They are also present on most islands of south-eastern Asia that do not form part of the Australian/New Guinean landmass, although there is also a race of Common Kingfisher in eastern New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Common Kingfishers, race "ispida", are permanent residents anywhere from Iberia and the British Isles (except Scotland) in the West to southern Sweden and Denmark in the North and most of Germany to the western coast of the Black Sea and western Turkey in the East. In Scotland, eastern Europe and central Turkey they are breeding migrants. Part of the migratory population (mostly eastern European breeders) spend the winters along the eastern Mediterranean (near-)coastal fringe, from southern Turkey via Lebanon and Israel/Palestine to northern Egypt, the African Red Sea (near-)coastal fringe and the river Nile valley. During the breeding season Common Kingfishers have a preference for habitats around slow-flowing fresh water with suitable steep banks for nesting. Outside the breeding season especially the migratory birds will disperse into a wider range of aquatic habitats.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "atthis" We have a record of a Common Kingfisher, nominate race "atthis", here. Race "ispida" I. Medenica reports spotting a Common Kingfisher, race "ispida", near Belgrade, Serbia, in May 2016. A. Sarokfound others in Vojvodina, Serbia, in the timeframe 2010-2024. A Common Kingfisher, race "ispida", was caught, ringed and photographed by S. Cuturilov in Ovcarsko-Kablarki Canyon, near Cacak, Serbia, in October 2017. D. Wilczynska reports finding a Common Kingfisher, race "ispida", along the river Narew, near Wizna, Podlaskie, Poland, in May 2018. Another was found near Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, in October 2020. J. Pires reports finding Common Kingfishers, race "ispida", occasionally in the region around Mora, Evora, Portugal. The species was also found at Embalse de Arrocampo, Caceres, Extremadura, Spain, in December 2019. M. Eaton reports finding a Common Kingfisher, race "ispida", in Mequinenza, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain, in September 2019. G. Normand spotted a Common Kingfisher, race "ispida", in Bois de Vincennes, 12th district, Paris, in December 2020. Another was found at Grand Voyeux, Seine et Marne, France, in September 2021. H. Dahlem-Senger found a Common Kingfisher, race "ispida", between Eltville and Hattenheim, Hessen, Germany, in September 2023.

Photos

Race "atthis"

A photo of a Common Kingfisher, nominate race "atthis" is available here.

Race "ispida"

ADULT

PAIR

Many bird species exhibit sexual dimorphism, i.e., male and female have differing appearances which can be quite subtle.
Male Common Kingfishers have a solid-black bill; in females the base of the lower mandible is orange. To the best of our knowledge the colouring, bluish vs. turquoise-greenish, is NOT a distinguishing criterion between the sexes.

MALE

Frontal view of a male Common Kingfisher; note the all-black bill (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, November 2018]

Near-frontal view of a male Common Kingfisher (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, November 2018]

Near-frontal view of a male Common Kingfisher looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Raia river, Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2022]

Near-lateral view of a male Common Kingfisher looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Raia river, Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2022]

Lateral view of a male Common Kingfisher (photo courtesy of A. Sarok)
[Vojvodina, Serbia, date unknown]

Lateral view of a male Common Kingfisher (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Raia river, Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2022]

Lateral view of a male Common Kingfisher with its tail cocked (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Raia river, Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a male Common Kingfisher (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Raia river, Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2022]

Dorsal view of a male Common Kingfisher looking sideways (photo courtesy of A. Sarok)
[Vojvodina, Serbia, date unknown]

Dorsal view of a male Common Kingfisher (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Raia river, Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2022]

Lateral view of a male Common Kingfisher in flight, wings up (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2018]

Lateral view of a male Common Kingfisher in flight, wings down (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2018]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a female Common Kingfisher looking sideways; the characteristic orange base of the lower mandible is faintly visible (photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Grand Voyeux, Seine et Marne, France, September 2021]

Near-frontal view of a female Common Kingfisher; note the orange base of the lower mandible (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, October 2020]

Lateral view of a female Common Kingfisher (photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Bois de Vincennes, 12th district, Paris, December 2020]

Lateral view of a female Common Kingfisher (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Narew, near Wizna, Podlaskie, Poland, May 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a female Common Kingfisher; note the orange base of the lower mandible (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mequinenza, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain, September 2019]

Sex unknown

Dorsal view of a Common Kingfisher in flight (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Split, Croatia, October 2019]

Dorsal view of a Common Kingfisher in characteristic low flight above water (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Embalse de Arrocampo, Caceres, Extremadura, Spain, December 2019]

Distant dorsal view of a Common Kingfisher banking to land (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2018]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Common Kingfisher; note the dull colours and the partly dark-grey feet and legs
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Split, Croatia, September 2019]

Lateral view of a juvenile Common Kingfisher; note the dull colours and the orange-grey lower mandible
(photo courtesy of I. Medenica)
[Near Belgrade, Serbia, May 2016]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Apr(?) - Aug(?)

Eggs: 2 - 10

Incubation period: 19 - 20 days

Fledging age: 24 - 25 days

Nest building: Female & male

Incubation: Female & male

Dependent care: Female & male

The length of the breeding season depends on geographic latitude. Common Kingfishers can have 2-3 broods per season, especially in the southern parts of their range. Both adults incubate during the day, but only the female incubates at nighttime. 1-2 eggs of a clutch usually fail to develop because they are not covered properly.

Nest

Type: Tunnel

Material: Sand/soil

Height above ground: N/A

Overview of a vertical bank into which a pair of Common Kingfishers have dug their nest tunnel
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Malkinia, Masovia, Poland, June 2020]

Eggs

Size: 22 x 19 mm

Colour: Glossy white

Shape: Rounded

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Partially migratory

Elementary unit: Solitary

In most of Europe, Common Kingfishers are sedentary. Only on the northern edge of their range and in eastern Europe are they summer breeding migrants.

Male Common Kingfisher on its elevated perch (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Peso dam, near Montemor o Novo, Evora, Portugal, July 2019]

Food, Diet

Frontal view of a Common Kingfisher with enormous prey - a fish almost its own size! (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Cabecao, Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2025]

Near-dorsal view of a male Common Kingfisher with its prey, a small fish (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Narew, near Wizna, Podlaskie, Poland, May 2018]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

comking_jp_20220123.m4a	ispida (Portugal)	Contact call(?)	© JP
comking_dw_20200912.m4a	ispida (Poland)	Contact calls(?)	© DW
comking_dw_20200627.m4a	ispida (Poland)	Territorial call(?), near nest	© DW

More Common Kingfisher sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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