The Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) is one of the most brightly colored and an intelligent bird. It measures 17-19 cm in length, weighs between 34 – 46 g and has a wingspan of 25 cm. The beak is around 4 cm long and pointed. The kingfishers have short, orange colored legs. The color of their wings is blue/green and their upper parts, rump and tail are of bright blue color. Their underparts are bright orange and they have small white bib underneath their beaks, on their throats.The kingfisher head is blue with orange marks in front and behind the bird’s eyes and a white mark on each side of the head. These bright, beautiful colors are more apparent when the bird is in flight.
DISTRIBUTION
The Common Kingfisher is widely distributed over Europe, Asia, and North Africa. In Odisha, it is widely distributed throughout the course of River Mahanadi, and sporadically along the Brahmani, specially where undisturbed sand banks are enclosed by braiding river channels. It is also seen in Chilika, Bhitarkanika River, Chandaka River, Mangalajodi and the Daya River.
DIET
They feed on aquatic insects such as dragonfly larvae, water beetles and small fish ranging from 1 inch to 5 inches long. such as sticklebacks, minnows, small roaches and trouts. About 60% of food items are fishes.
BREEDING
They begin to form pairs in February and they construct a nesting tunnel in a sandy bank usually around water source. The tunnel is usually 60 – 90 cm (24 – 35 inches) in length and approximately 6 cm (2.4 inches) in diameter. The nest chamber has a slight depression and they line it with fish bones and disgorged pellets. The female lays about 5 or 7 white, glossy eggs but sometimes will lay up to 10 eggs. The eggs average 1.9 cm in breath, 2.2 cm in length and weighs about 4.3 g of which 50% is shell.
The male and the female share the job of incubating the eggs for about 20 days. Both incubate by day, however, only the female kingfisher incubates by night. The eggs hatch in 19 – 20 days and the young remain in the nest for a further 24 – 25 days, sometimes longer. Once large enough, young birds will come to the burrow entrance to be fed. Two to three broods may be reared in a season.They lay 2 – 3 broods of eggs per year, the first in April, the second in July and occasionally a third brood in October. The young reaches sexual maturity within a year and is ready to breed by the next breeding season.
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PREDATORS
The main predators of the Common Kingfisher are foxes, raccoons, cats and snakes, but kingfishers are also preyed upon by small mammals and large birds.
INTERESTING FACTS
- They are also known as European Kingfisher or River Kingfisher.
- Common Kingfisher can dive at speeds up to 25 mph. The kingfisher’s speed is incredible and fascinating to watch.
- They eat around 60% of its body weight.
- The kingfisher has monocular vision (in which each eye is used separately) in the air and binocular vision (in which both eyes are used together) in water.
- While diving for the prey, the wings are opened under water and the open eyes are protected by the transparent third eyelid.
- In England, the killing of Kingfisher and hanging it from a thread was practiced in the belief that it would swing to predict the direction in which wind would blow.
HABIT AND BEHAVIOR
Common Kingfishers are usually found near lakes, ponds, canals, streams and slow moving rivers. Kingfishers are very sensitive to cold weather and a particularly harsh winter can seriously reduce kingfisher populations. Kingfisher populations fluctuates greatly because of temperature variations.
CONSERVATION STATUS
They are among Least Concern (LC) species in IUCN (International Union For Conservation of Nature) List.
AVIFAUNAL DIVERSITY OF ODISHA 