Kingfishers

Kingfishers in the UK are fascinating and vibrant birds, known for their striking blue and orange plumage and distinctive hunting style. The most common species in the UK is the Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis). Here’s a detailed overview of UK kingfishers and their feeding habits:

 Common Kingfishers are small, about 16-17 cm long with a wingspan of 25 cm. They have bright blue upperparts and a striking orange underbelly, with a white throat patch and a long, sharp black beak They are typically found along rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, and estuaries. Kingfishers prefer clear, slow-moving or still water where they can find fish.

Kingfishers primarily eat small fish, such as minnows and sticklebacks, but they also consume aquatic insects, small crustaceans, and occasionally tadpoles or small amphibians.

Kingfishers need to consume a substantial amount of food daily due to their high metabolism. An adult kingfisher may eat its body weight in fish each day.