Eurasian Kingfisher
Tagged: animal, animals, bird, cat, fish, insect( image )
A blue arrow dives into the water, all whiring wings and a flash of iridescent colours. This is often the only fleeting glimpse we catch of the Eurasian or common kingfisher, but it is unmistakable. These small, shy birds are found on the rivers and streams throughout Europe and Asia and as far north as finland. Their startling turquoise and amber plumage makes them as vividly coloured as any tropical hummingbird.
No Trespassing
Small, swift and active, kingfishers are also highly territorial: they defend their fishing grounds fiercely from rivals because they need to eat almost two-thirds of their body weight in fish every day. When contesting territory, kingfishers perform a ritual display perched some distance from each other. Usually the dispute is resolved without combat but sometimes they will lock beaks and attemp to drown each other. Flying attacks and aerial chases are common. The kingfisher has a distintive loud, shril call, which sounds like “cheeeee’. it roosts in dense cover near water, arriving after dark and leaving just before dawn.
Part of body
- A membrane – automatically covers the eye when the bird dives underwater
- polarizing filters – on the eye cut out reflections, co the bird can see into the water
- bill – is long and black; females have red on the lower mandible
- throat – is white
- ear tufts – are white
- underside – is amber
- leg and feet – are small and orange
- tail – short and stubby
statistics
- status – common
- social unit – solitary; mating pairs stay together during breeding season
- lenght – 16 cm
- weight – 35 g
- wingspan – 30-33 cm
- plumage – sexes alike
- migrant – partial seasonal migrant
- breeding period – march in europe; August in Southeast Asia
- sexual maturity – 2 years
- number of eggs – 5-8 eggs
- incubation – 19-21 days
- diet – small fish, amphibians, molluscs, insects,.
- lifespan – up to 20 years
Myth of fact
According to medieval myth, the kingfisher used to be grey but after the biblical flood, it flew over the sun to reach heaven and scan the waters. As a result, its breast was burnt red and it back turned as blue as the sky.
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