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14

Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) Alternate name(s): "Eurasian Kingfisher", "River Kingfisher" Size: 16-18 cm (incl. bill, 4 cm); wing span: 25-30 cm Weight: 23-25 g

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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 dark-grey on top and brownish-grey elsewhere. The very short, stumpy legs are bright reddish-brown to red.

Taxonomy, classification See Common Kingfisher at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat 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. In Arabia Common Kingfishers, nominate race "atthis", are found as winter visitors in a wide strip along the North coast from southern Iraq and Kuwait through western Saudi Arabia, the UAE and into northern Oman, just short of the eastern cape. 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 not seen a Common Kingfisher, race "atthis", in Oman yet. The photo below was taken in Egypt. All information presented on this page is courtesy of S. Kirkby.

Photos

Race "atthis"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-dorsal view of a Common Kingfisher (photo courtesy of S. Kirkby)

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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