Kingfisher

Kingfisher is the common name for birds in the family Alcedinidae, a group of small to medium-sized water birds found on every continent except Antarctica. The family contains around 90 species in several genera and three subfamilies, and most species are tied to aquatic habitats such as rivers, lakes, coasts, and mangroves.

Most kingfishers have stout bodies, large heads, long, straight bills, and short necks. Many species exhibit iridescent blue or green upperparts with orange or white underparts, though color patterns vary widely among taxa. Eyes are often adapted for sharp focus when watching water, and many species show sexual dimorphism only in subtle plumage details.

They hunt by perching silently above water and diving feet-first or head-first to seize prey with their bill. Their diet is mostly fish, but includes crustaceans, insects, and amphibians depending on species and habitat. After a catch, they typically return to a perch to feed.

Nesting usually occurs in a tunnel excavated into a riverbank, a termite mound, or a similar sheltered site. Clutch size typically ranges from two to eight eggs; both parents incubate and feed the chicks, which fledge after a few weeks.

Conservation: Most species are of least concern, but several are threatened by habitat loss, water pollution, and degradation of waterways. Some populations have declined due to changes in waterways, fishing activity, and climate-related shifts in habitat.