The Common
Kingfisher (Alcido atthis), also known as Eurasian Kingfisher or River
Kingfisher, is about 16 cm long small bird with green-blue upper parts, azure
blue back and rump, amber underside, long black beak, white throat, small
orange legs, and short stubby tail. It is a resident species across Eurasia and
North Africa.
They live on
small fish and other aquatic insects which they catch from under water surface
by flash diving from their perch. They
must eat about 60 per cent of their body weight each day to survive. So, these
birds prefer shallow but clear water habitats where they can easily see their
prey under water. This is why the Kingfisher density is an important indicator
of the health of the freshwater bodies. Higher density indicates better quality
water.
