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Common Kingfisher

Alcedo atthis

Least Concern (IUCN Red List)Kingfishers
Common Kingfisher, photographed by Lviatour

Photo: Lviatour · Wikimedia · CC-BY-SA 4.0 (licence)

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Call and song

About the Common Kingfisher

Beautiful little blue-and-orange bird with a long, pointed bill. Often rather shy and inconspicuous despite bright plumage. Found along rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds—almost any fresh or brackish habitat with small fish. Often perches quietly in trees over water; most often seen in very fast low flight as a turquoise flash over the water, usually flying away. Easily detected once its high, shrill whistled call is learned, even if the bird itself is hidden. The only small blue kingfisher over much of its range.

Species account: eBird.org, fetched 2025-12-26 · How these pages are made

Where it has been recorded

Recorded in 111 of the 253 countries we have eBird lists for. Each opens that country's checklist.

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