Common Kingfisher - description, habitat

The content of the article

1 Appearance
2 What do they eat?
3 How is the offspring reproduced?
4 Habitat area
5 Interesting about kingfishers
6 Video: Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

The Kingfisher is an interesting breed of small birds belonging to the order of the Shrike and the family of the Kingfisher. The mass of these birds is only 25-30 grams. In appearance, these birds are quite bright and unusual.

Appearance

The size of the bird of the breed of common kingfishers is no more than the ordinary starlings. These birds have a rather large head, which looks rather large against the background of a small body. In kingfishers, a very long and large beak, which is distinguished by sharpness and hardness. Wings and tail, quite the contrary, very short. The color of these birds is quite bright and eye-catching, like in the other species of the order of crustaceans. On the back and wings of the kingfisher bright and soft plumage of blue with greenish tones. The belly and wings on the inside are presented in a reddish tint that resembles the color of rust. In general, kingfishers have a very bright and noticeable color.

Males and females of this species have the same color, so it is quite difficult to distinguish them. Males are only slightly larger than females and have a slightly brighter color. Kingfishers have very short legs, which are not intended to move at all, therefore these birds move exclusively with the help of wings.

Interestingly, if you look at the kingfisher when he is nearby, you can see that the color of these birds is dull and not as bright as in flight. The fact is that the special brightness of feathers, these birds reach through the refraction of light, which occurs during the flight.

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What do they eat?

Nutrition kingfishers associated with the territory of their distribution. Most often, these birds can be found near the shores of reservoirs. For this reason, the basis of the diet of these bright individuals are small fish, as well as insects found in the water and even tadpoles of frogs. Sometimes freshwater shrimp is used as food. It is worth noting that this species of birds has a good appetite, one individual can eat up to 12 fish per day.

Kingfishers hunt mostly on the fly, grabbing fish, however, sometimes they can dive under water and fly out from under the water. The common kingfisher is in ambush for some time, waiting for its prey, after which it attacks rather sharply. Birds are eaten on the spot, or, if necessary, carry prey to the nest.

How is the offspring reproduced?

Males very nicely care for females of kingfishers. At the onset of the mating season, the representative of the male half catches various fish and in the beak brings them to the female. Then, when the pair is formed, the male begins work on the future nest. He organizes the dwelling with the help of his long beak, with which he digs a hole in the ground. A couple can live in the same nest for a long time, up to several years. It is extremely rare to find nests of kingfishers in the hollows of alder or other trees along water bodies.

One clutch includes an average of 7-8 eggs, in rare cases, their number can increase to 12 pieces. The process of incubation takes from 2 to 3 weeks. At this time, both parents are near the eggs, alternately engaging in hatching.The nestlings born to the world do not resemble their parents too much, since they are born naked and blind. In addition, it gives an odd disproportionate body. At an early age, the large head of chicks looks especially large against the background of a still very small body. Growth and development of chicks is pretty fast. Already after three weeks, babies can independently leave the nest and carry on their livelihoods.

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Habitat area

Among all individuals of the kingfisher, there are both sedentary birds and those that fly to warmer areas for the wintering period. The greatest distribution of these birds is noted in the north-west of Africa, on the Eurasian continent, in the New Zealand territories, and also in Indonesia. Most often these birds can be found near rivers, lakes, seas and other bodies of water. Kingfishers nest not too high, the maximum height is not more than 700 meters above sea level.

In total, there are six subspecies that are also distributed on the territory of our country. For example, they can be found in the forest-steppe and the steppes of Siberia.Quite often these birds are found near Tomsk, Achinsk, Novosibirsk, Kansk, Pavlodar, as well as in the upper Yenisei. Around the end of April, the kingfisher arrives in the territory of the middle zone of our country.

It is important to note that the kingfisher very carefully selects a place to live. First, the water reservoir must necessarily be near, in which there will be flowing water and average depth. These birds do not fit too deep rivers, and very small ponds. Also there should be a cliff near, and on the shore a large number of plants. Kingfishers do not like to settle near the colonies of other birds, so they are more likely to seek places in solitude. Today, the prevalence of kingfishers is becoming less and less, as is the number of individuals of this species. This is primarily due to human activities, but these birds are not considered an endangered species.

Interesting about kingfishers

Common Kingfishers are rare birds that, instead of the standard nest arrangement, choose nesting chambers under the ground for which they carefully dig a hole. These birds are so concerned about the preservation of their offspring that they make one very narrow entrance to the hole, into which even they can pass with difficulty.

It is quite difficult to find these birds, as they are very fond of solitude.More often you can hear their voice, which is an intermittent but loud squeak.

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