Kingfisher Facts
A kingfisher is a small to medium-sized, brightly colored bird of the family Alcedinidae, with a big head, a long sharp bill and a stubby tail.
- Class
- Bird
About the kingfisher
The family has 118 species split into three subfamilies and 19 genera. Most live in the tropics of Africa, Asia and Oceania, but some reach Europe and the Americas, often in deep forests by calm ponds and small rivers. Short legs and bright feathers are standard, and males and females usually look almost alike. A slight majority of species are found only in forests.
Most kingfishers hunt by swooping from a perch onto a wide range of prey. They are often pictured as fish eaters by rivers, yet plenty of species stay far from water and feed on small invertebrates. Their nests sit in cavities, mostly tunnels dug into banks, and some move into termite nests in trees. A few species, mostly on islands, face extinction.
Did you know?
- British speakers who say kingfisher usually mean one species, the common kingfisher.
- Kingfishers belong to the bird order Coraciiformes, along with some close relatives.
- Some kingfisher species nest inside termite nests built in trees.
Questions about the kingfisher
Do all kingfishers eat fish?
No. Plenty of kingfishers live far from water and feed on small invertebrates.
Where do kingfishers nest?
In cavities, most often tunnels they dig into earth banks, natural or artificial.
Sources
- Wikidata Q8154335, checked October 8, 2026
- Wikipedia: Kingfisher, checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.