Alcedo atthis atthis

From Bharatpedia, an open encyclopedia

Common kingfisher
Kingfisher eating a tadpole.jpg
A kingfisher capturing a tadpole
Scientific classification
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A. atthis
Binomial name
Alcedo atthis
Alcedo atthis -range map-2-cp.png
  Breeding range
  Resident all year-round
  Non-breeding range

The Common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), also known as the Indian kingfisher and River kingfisher, is a small kingfisher. Like most kingfishers, it needs a perch to do its fishing. Usual is to see it on a tree branch overlooking a river.

There are seven subspecies in its wide distribution across Eurasia and North Africa. It is resident over much of its range, but migrates from areas where rivers freeze in winter.

This sparrow-sized bird has the typical short-tailed, large-headed kingfisher profile; it has blue upperparts, orange underparts and a long bill. It feeds mainly on fish caught by diving, and has special visual adaptions to see its prey underwater. The glossy white eggs are laid in a nest at the end of a burrow in a riverbank. In India it is considered as the "National Aquatic bird of India", because of its Pan-Indian Patriotic Colours respectively.

Sources[edit]

  1. BirdLife International (2012). "Alcedo atthis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |last-author-amp= (help); Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Alcedo atthis