Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

Kingfishers are easily recognizable, even by those without extensive ornithological knowledge, due to their distinctive appearance. This family comprises 92 species, classified into three subfamilies: *Alcedininae*, *Cerylinae*, and *Halcyoninae*. Species in the *Halcyoninae* subfamily typically have a robust beak and are less reliant on aquatic environments. Among the most well-known members of this group are the Australian kookaburras (*Dacelo* species). The common kingfisher inhabits temperate regions across Eurasia, Japan, and tropical Southeast Asia. It shows minimal sexual dimorphism in coloration and resides along streams, where it hunts fish from perches. After capturing a fish, the kingfisher must position it headfirst to swallow, as the fish’s bony rays could otherwise lodge in its throat, causing the bird to choke. Its call is a prolonged whistle. During nesting, the common kingfisher digs long burrows into the soft banks of water bodies and nests inside. In non-Russian Europe and tropical regions, this species is generally non-migratory, whereas populations in the former Soviet Union migrate southward for the winter.