Common Kingfisher

The common kingfisher is a small, brilliantly colored bird found across much of Europe, Asia and North Africa, instantly recognizable by its vivid blue-green back, orange underparts and long, dagger-like bill. It lives along slow-moving rivers, streams, canals and lakes, where it perches motionless on overhanging branches or wires before diving headfirst into the water in a rapid, precise strike to catch small fish, its primary prey, along with aquatic insects. Common kingfishers nest in burrows they excavate into earthen riverbanks, and their fast, direct flight low over the water, often announced by a sharp, high-pitched whistle, makes them a striking if fleeting sight. The species is sensitive to water pollution and habitat disturbance, since it depends on clear water to spot prey, but it remains widespread across its large range.