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Common Kingfisher

Alcedo atthis

Its bill shape helped engineers redesign the nose of a Japanese bullet train, making it quieter and faster.

Where to see it for real: Clear, slow water with small fish and a bank to dig its tunnel.

Spot it in the game

Lives in the Garden pond habitat (East Asia, at the Summer Palace in Beijing).

Common Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis
Photo: Алина Урусова, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist. Cut out from the original photo.

Common Kingfisher facts

Family
Kingfishers
Length
6.7 in (17 cm)
Wingspan
9.8 in (25 cm)
Weight
1.4 oz (40 g)
Diet
Small fish, plus water insects and tadpoles.
Range
Europe, Asia and North Africa, near clear, slow streams and ponds.
Nest
A tunnel up to 1 m (3 ft) long dug into a riverbank.
Song
A shrill whistled "tseee" as it flashes low over the water.
Active
by day
Status
Least Concern on the IUCN Red List: widespread and not at risk.

What the Common Kingfisher sounds like

Recording 1: wilmet sebastien, CC0, original on xeno-canto. Trimmed and cleaned of low background noise.
Recording 2: Jairam Vijayan, CC BY-SA 4.0, original on xeno-canto. Trimmed and cleaned of low background noise.

More: bird songs and calls.

More birds of the garden pond

Mandarin DuckMandarin DuckGarden pondLittle EgretLittle EgretGarden pondChinese Pond HeronChinese Pond HeronGarden pondBlack-crowned Night HeronBlack-crowned Night HeronGarden pondAzure-winged MagpieAzure-winged MagpieGarden pondLight-vented BulbulLight-vented BulbulGarden pond

Spot the Common Kingfisher yourself

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