Kingfisher
The kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) is a small, brilliant blue and orange bird with a dagger-like bill.
On the islands
Kingfishers live along rivers, lakes and estuaries, including the river islands of the Thames.
When to see
Present all year; easier to see on coasts in winter.
Did you know?
Kingfishers dig nest burrows in riverbanks up to a metre long.
Where to see it on the islands
On Search Isle, the kingfisher is recorded on 78 islands. They are spread across England (55), Scotland (14), Wales (4), Crown Dependencies (3) and Ireland (2).
The most records come from Isle of Wight (Hampshire, 1,482 records), Hayling Island (Chichester Harbour, 473 records), St Mary’s (Isles of Scilly, 409 records) and Chiswick Eyot (River Thames, 307 records). These counts reflect where people have looked as well as where the animal lives: busy islands, and those with bird observatories, have far more records than remote ones.
Through the year
The kingfisher is usually seen from July to May.
Other woodpeckers and kingfishers
The kingfisher is one of 3 woodpeckers and kingfishers on Search Isle, alongside Great Spotted Woodpecker and Green Woodpecker.
