Short Description
The common kingfisher is unmistakeable thanks to its striking blue-green upper parts and red-brown underparts. It has a white throat and a white neck spot on both sides. The long, powerful, black beak of the relatively small bird is also remarkable. The feet are orange.
The beak of the female is orange on the underside approximately up to the middle. Otherwise the sexes look quite similar.
The young animals have dark brown feet and a more matte plumage.
Features
Common kingfisher
Alcedo atthis
bright blue-green and red-brown plumage
Rufsequenzen von Eisvögeln
Frommolt (CC BY-SA 3.0)
In the city
Kingfishers live along slow-flowing and stagnant waters and can mainly be observed at the urban fringe.
Common kingfishers are popular photo motifs, but also very rare and elusive. Disturbance by humans can result in nesting burrows being abandoned.
Fun Facts
Common kingfishers prefer temperate habitats. Most kingfisher species live in tropical climates.
Common kingfishers hibernate in Germany. However, findings of individual birds indicate that they fly south in harsh winters.
They are territorial loners, loyal to their location and day-active.
They feed on fish, water insects, small crabs and tadpoles.
- Endangerment level Germany: not endangered
Sources
Männchen, Lukasz Lukasik, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alcedo_atthis_2_%28Lukasz_Lukasik%29.jpg
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Männchen, Joefrei, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ein_Eisvogel_im_Schwebflug.jpg
Weibchen, Andreas Trepte, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Common_Kingfisher_Alcedo_atthis.jpg
Witt, K. & Steiof, K. (2013) Rote Liste und Liste der Brutvögel von Berlin, 3. version, 15.11.2013. : Berliner Ornithologische Arbeitsgemeinschaft e.V. (eds.) Berliner Ornithologischer Bericht, volume 23, Berlin: Berliner Ornithologische Arbeitsgemeinschaft e.V., 1-23.
Harrison, C. (1975) Jungvögel, Eier und Nester aller Vögel Europas, Nordafrikas und des Mittleren Ostens - Ein Naturführer zur Fortpflanzungsbiologie, Hamburg und Berlin: Verlag Paul Parey.
Page „Eisvogel“. : Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Date of last revision: 07.10.2020, 10:27 UTC. URL: https://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eisvogel&oldid=204337828 (Accessed: 21.10.2020).