The common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), also known as the Eurasian kingfisher and river kingfisher, is a small kingfisher with seven subspecies recognized across Eurasia and North Africa. It is resident in much of its range, but migrates from areas where rivers freeze in winter.
It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758 .The binomial name derives from the Latin alcedo, ‘kingfisher’ and Atthis, a beautiful young woman of Lesbos, and favourite of Sappho, a Greek poet.
The flight of the kingfisher is fast, direct and usually low over water, shows an turquoise-blue “flash” down its back.
It has two fovea, enabling to negate the effects of refraction to hunt fish underwater. And it has monocular vision in air, and binocular vision in water. Sexes are identical except that the female lower mandible is orange-red with a black tip and in males its all black.
Shot in Coorg, Dec 2025 © Dr.Bishan Monnappa
Thought I would add my bit to the brilliance of Dr Bishan’s photography!