
Common Kingfisher- Alcedo atthis
Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Class: Aves
- Order: Coraciiformes
- Family: Alcedinidae
- Genre: Alcedo
- Species Alcedo atthis
Identification characters
It is a small bird, very beautifully coloured, with a body length of 18 cm.
It weighs 34-46 grams. Large head, long beak, broad wings, short tail. Legs are short, bright red and grey in juveniles. Crests and wings are greenish-blue, backs and tails deep blue, with shades varying according to the direction in which light rays strike the plumage. The belly is reddish orange. The cheeks have a scarlet patch. The male’s bill is greyish black, while the female’s is red at the base of the mandible. It stands upright on its stand. In flight it emits a short, sharp whistle.