Summary

In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of the Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), a small but mighty bird known for its striking blue and orange plumage and remarkable fish-hunting skills. We'll look at this species' behavior, from its iconic plunges into water to catch prey, to how it breeds, including courtship rituals, nest-building, and the challenges of raising chicks.

Learn about the kingfisher's diet and foraging strategies, including how it deals with challenges like refraction at the water’s surface to accurately target its prey. Additionally, I touch on the habitat and global distribution of the Common Kingfisher.

This episode offers a fun exploration of one of the most beloved birds in Eurasia. Tune in to learn more about the "Prince of Piscivory."

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Links of Interest

• Kingfisher Diving in Slow Motion [VIDEO]
• Kingfisher Coughing up a Pellet [VIDEO]
• Two male kingfishers fighting [VIDEO]‍
• Kingfisher family in the nest cavity [VIDEO]

Research Citations

• Microstructures in Blue Feathers of the Common Kingfisher
• Commensal association of the common kingfisher with foraging Eurasian otters
• Low Extra-Pair Paternity and Polygamy in the Common Kingfisher
• The Effect of Age, Sex and Winter Severity on Return Rates and Apparent Survival in the Common Kingfisher
• Extreme breeding effort of Common Kingfisher
• Using miniaturized GPS archival tags to assess home range features of a small plunge-diving bird: the European Kingfisher

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Photos

Attributions

• Common Kingfisher sounds (Xeno Canto recording XC763690)
• Common Kingfisher sounds (Xeno Canto recording XC690633)
• Common Kingfisher sounds (Xeno Canto recording XC839045)