1481:
1451:
1516:
species. The nests take the form of a small chamber at the end of a tunnel. Nest-digging duties are shared between the sexes. During the initial excavations, the bird may fly at the chosen site with considerable force, and birds have injured themselves fatally while doing this. The length of the tunnels varies by species and location; nests in termitaria are necessarily much shorter than those dug into the earth, and nests in harder substrates are shorter than those in soft soil or sand. The longest tunnels recorded are those of the giant kingfisher, which have been found to be 8.5 m (28 ft) long.
245:
1384:
1466:
197:
1436:
209:
1420:, reptiles (including snakes), and even birds and mammals. Individual species may specialise in a few items or take a wide variety of prey, and for species with large global distributions, different populations may have different diets. Woodland and forest kingfishers take mainly insects, particularly grasshoppers, whereas the water kingfishers are more specialised in taking fish. The red-backed kingfisher has been observed hammering into the mud nests of
63:
38:
1536:
178:
233:
221:
1387:
1391:
1390:
1386:
1385:
1392:
1629:" were granted. These are the seven days on either side of the winter solstice when storms shall never again occur for them. The Halcyon birds' "days" were for caring for the winter-hatched clutch (or brood), but the phrase "Halcyon days" also refers specifically to an idyllic time in the past, or in general to a peaceful time. In another version, a woman named
1389:
1281:
The irises of most species are dark brown. The kingfishers have excellent vision; they are capable of binocular vision and are thought in particular to have good colour vision. They have restricted movement of their eyes within the eye sockets, instead using head movements to track prey. In addition,
372:
The scientific name is derived from Greek mythology and the ancient belief that the birds nested in the open sea and called them halkyons (Latin halcyon) from hals (sea) and kyon (born). In Greek mythology the gods gave the halkyons the ability to calm the waters when nesting. In Greek mythology, one
1424:
to feed on their nestlings. Kingfishers usually hunt from an exposed perch; when a prey item is observed, the kingfisher swoops down to snatch it, then returns to the perch. Kingfishers of all three families beat larger prey on a perch to kill the prey and to dislodge or break protective spines and
1300:
The kingfishers have a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring throughout the world's tropical and temperate regions. They are absent from the polar regions and some of the world's driest deserts. Several species have reached islands groups, particularly those in the south and east
Pacific Ocean. The
296:
They consume a wide range of prey, usually caught by swooping down from a perch. While kingfishers are usually thought to live near rivers and eat fish, many species live away from water and eat small invertebrates. Like other members of their order, they nest in cavities, usually tunnels dug into
1515:
in holes dug in the ground. These holes are usually in earth banks on the sides of rivers, lakes or man-made ditches. Some species may nest in holes in trees, the earth clinging to the roots of an uprooted tree, or arboreal nests of termites (termitarium). These termite nests are common in forest
1344:
Individual species may have massive ranges, like the common kingfisher, which ranges from
Ireland across Europe, North Africa, and Asia as far as the Solomon Islands in Australasia, or the pied kingfisher, which has a widespread distribution across Africa and Asia. Other species have much smaller
1265:
of most kingfishers is bright, with green and blue being the most common colours. The brightness of the colours is neither the product of iridescence (except in the
American kingfishers) or pigments but is instead caused by the structure of the feathers, which causes scattering of blue light (the
1278:, which is used to dig through the forest floor in search of prey. They generally have short legs, although species that feed on the ground have longer tarsi. Most species have four toes, three of which are forward-pointing and fused towards the base ("syndactyl") to some extent.
368:
in 1825 is earlier and has priority. A few taxonomists elevate the three subfamilies to family status. In spite of the word "kingfisher" in their
English vernacular names, many of these birds are not specialist fish-eaters; none of the species in Halcyoninae are.
277:, with most species living in the tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Oceania, but also can be found in Europe and the Americas. They can be found in deep forests near calm ponds and small rivers. The family contains 118 species and is divided into three
1282:
they are capable of compensating for the refraction of water and reflection when hunting prey underwater, and are able to judge depth under water accurately. They also have nictitating membranes that cover the eyes to protect them when they hit the water; the
627:, suggest that the sparse representation in the Western Hemisphere resulted from just two original colonising events. The subfamily is a comparatively recent split from the Halcyoninae, diversifying in the Old World as recently as the Miocene or Pliocene.
1625:. As gods, they lived the sacrilege of referring to themselves as Zeus and Hera. They died for this, but the other gods, in an act of compassion, made them into birds, thus restoring them to their original seaside habitat. In addition, special "
601:
and Middle Eocene rocks in
Germany, around 30–40 Mya. More recent fossil kingfishers have been described in the Miocene rocks of Australia (5–25 Mya). Several fossil birds have been erroneously ascribed to the kingfishers, including
1273:
The kingfishers have long, dagger-like bills. The bill is usually longer and more compressed in species that hunt fish, and shorter and more broad in species that hunt prey off the ground. The largest and most atypical bill is that of the
1388:
1360:
Kingfishers occupy a wide range of habitats. While they are often associated with rivers and lakes, over half the world's species are found in forests and forested streams. They also occupy a wide range of other habitats. The
380:
The phylogenetic relationship between the kingfishers and the other five families that make up the order
Coraciiformes is shown in the cladogram below. The number of species in each family is taken from the list maintained by
1587:
Kingfishers are generally shy birds, but in spite of this, they feature heavily in human culture, generally due to the large head supporting its powerful mouth, their bright plumage, or some species' interesting behavior.
1365:
of
Australia lives in the driest deserts, although kingfishers are absent from other dry deserts like the Sahara. Other species live high in mountains, or in open woodland, and a number of species live on tropical
1370:. Numerous species have adapted to human-modified habitats, particularly those adapted to woodlands, and may be found in cultivated and agricultural areas, as well as parks and gardens in towns and cities.
2063:
Andersen, M.J.; McCullough, J.M.; Mauck III, W.M.; Smith, B.T.; Moyle, R.G. (2017). "A phylogeny of kingfishers reveals an
Indomalayan origin and elevated rates of diversification on oceanic islands".
1617:
Modern taxonomy also refers to the winds and sea in naming kingfishers after a classical Greek myth. The first pair of the mythical-bird
Halcyon (kingfishers) were created from a marriage of
1523:
size varies by species; some of the very large and very small species lay as few as two eggs per clutch, whereas others may lay 10 eggs, the typical is around three to six eggs. Both sexes
1450:
2858:
1480:
1301:
Old World tropics and
Australasia are the core areas for this group. Europe and North America north of Mexico are very poorly represented, with only one common kingfisher (
1823:
1400:
Kingfishers feed on a wide variety of prey. They are most famous for hunting and eating fish, and some species do specialise in catching fish, but other species take
2732:
2771:
1425:
bones. Having beaten the prey, it is manipulated and then swallowed. Sometimes, a pellet of bones, scales, and other indigestible debris is coughed up. The
1242:), which averages 10 cm (3.9 in) in length and between 9 and 12 g (0.32 and 0.42 oz) in weight. The largest kingfisher in Africa is the
377:
named Alcyone (Alcedo in Latin) married Ceyx who was killed in a shipwreck. Alcyone drowned herself in grief and the gods revived them both as kingfishers.
2182:
2275:
1250:), which is 42 to 46 cm (17 to 18 in) in length and 255–426 g (9.0–15.0 oz) in weight. The common Australian kingfisher, known as the
2706:
2745:
2477:
1341:
belted kingfisher. In comparison, the African country of the Gambia has eight resident species in its 120-by-20-mile (193 by 32 km) area.
390:
297:
the natural or artificial banks in the ground. Some kingfishers nest in arboreal termite nests. A few species, principally insular forms, are
2531:
2340:
2124:
1846:
1807:
1504:, although cooperative breeding has been observed in some species and is quite common in others, for example the laughing kookaburra, where
1295:
1579:
due to a combination of habitat loss and degradation caused by introduced cattle, and possibly due to predation by introduced species.
1465:
2548:
2820:
1603:
is considered a bad omen, and warriors who see one on the way to battle should return home. Another Bornean tribe considers the
1270:). In most species, no overt differences between the sexes exist; when differences occur, they are quite small (less than 10%).
1752:
1614:, along with other Pacific kingfishers, was venerated by the Polynesians, who believed it had control over the seas and waves.
1435:
1944:
Kuhl, H.; Frankl-Vilches, C.; Bakker, A.; Mayr, G.; Nikolaus, G.; Boerno, S.T.; Klages, S.; Timmermann, B.; Gahr, M. (2021).
2750:
2443:"Kingfisher: contemplating the connection between nature and humans through science, art, literature, and lived experiences"
1325:
in southeastern Europe). The six species occurring in the Americas are four closely related green kingfishers in the genus
2758:
1742:
1576:
345:
237:
139:
2109:
Woodall, Peter (2001). "Family Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)". In del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Sargatal, Jordi (eds.).
1720:
1630:
285:. All kingfishers have large heads, long, sharp, pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails. Most species have bright
2628:
2615:
20:
62:
2141:
2685:
2509:. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. Vol. 222. New York: American Museum of Natural History.
2030:
1708:
1559:. Most of these are forest species with limited distribution, particularly insular species. They are threatened by
1540:
1350:
382:
374:
244:
2776:
2698:
1600:
1327:
1322:
274:
2244:
2160:
1426:
1275:
1235:
361:
360:(Cerylinae). The name Daceloninae is sometimes used for the tree kingfisher subfamily but it was introduced by
225:
365:
2863:
2568:
2356:
Legge, S.; Cockburn, A. (2000). "Social and mating system of cooperatively breeding laughing kookaburras (
631:
2807:
1362:
620:
2633:
2419:
1511:
Like all Coraciiformes, the kingfishers are cavity nesters, as well as tree nesters, with most species
2473:
2853:
2848:
2825:
2786:
2654:
1908:
1879:
Birds of the world : a survey of the twenty-seven orders and one hundred and fifty-five families
1568:
196:
2142:"A molecular phylogeny of kingfishers (Alcedinidae) with insights into early biogeographic history"
2034:
1560:
1505:
1501:
1251:
386:
201:
208:
2377:
2267:
2174:
1817:
1564:
1497:
582:
57:
2116:
2110:
2812:
1688:) is obscure; the term comes from "king's fisher", but why that name was applied is not known.
2794:
2641:
2527:
2336:
2120:
1926:
1842:
1803:
1654:
1649:
1611:
1604:
1441:
1310:
1306:
1302:
586:
443:
353:
302:
293:. Most species are tropical in distribution, and a slight majority are found only in forests.
290:
248:
2737:
2606:
2799:
2510:
2454:
2414:
2369:
2313:
2259:
2164:
2156:
2072:
2010:
2000:
1967:
1957:
1916:
1895:; Berv, J.S.; Dornburg, A.; Field, D.J.; Townsend, J.P.; Lemmon, E.M.; Lemmon, A.R. (2015).
1657:
1633:
was cast into the waves by her father for her promiscuity and was turned into a kingfisher.
1572:
1524:
1456:
1396:
Kingfisher catching fish, eating, defecating, and flying in Kõrvemaa, Estonia (October 2022)
1314:
1258:), is the heaviest species, with females reaching nearly 500 g (18 oz) in weight.
1243:
623:
to the other two subfamilies. The few species found in the Americas, all from the subfamily
357:
314:
262:
45:
1946:"An unbiased molecular approach using 3′-UTRs resolves the avian family-level tree of life"
1668:
1664:
1544:
1471:
1318:
1283:
934:
349:
37:
2396:
1897:"A comprehensive phylogeny of birds (Aves) using targeted next-generation DNA sequencing"
2556:
2015:
1988:
1912:
1527:
the eggs. The offspring of the kingfisher usually stay with the parents for 3–4 months.
589:
around 27 million years ago (Mya) and invaded the Australasian realm a number of times.
2693:
2680:
1338:
1267:
2842:
2405:
1972:
1520:
400:
338:
318:
270:
114:
2381:
2178:
1746:
1626:
1535:
2620:
1892:
1421:
838:
2646:
2504:
2763:
2719:
2600:
1367:
1159:
1002:
916:
870:
742:
690:
651:
278:
161:
156:
2591:
2005:
177:
1556:
1552:
1401:
1333:
1101:
795:
604:
459:
334:
298:
252:
213:
2243:
Bancroft, Wilder; Chamot, Emile M.; Merritt, Ernest; Mason, Clyde W. (1923).
1962:
1945:
1712:
2667:
1684:
Not all the kingfishers are named in this way. The etymology of kingfisher (
1512:
1417:
1405:
1107:
1074:
781:
624:
523:
420:
326:
166:
74:
2115:. Vol. 6, Mousebirds to Hornbills. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. pp.
1930:
232:
220:
2442:
2373:
1500:, some species defending their territories vigorously. They are generally
301:
with extinction. In Britain, the word "kingfisher" normally refers to the
2585:
1346:
1050:
672:
342:
94:
1921:
1896:
2271:
1637:
1618:
1413:
1409:
1262:
984:
598:
500:
286:
2169:
2076:
2038:
1429:
uses its massive, wide bill as a shovel to dig for worms in soft mud.
1286:
has a bony plate, which slides across the eye when it hits the water.
1596:
1354:
1068:
891:
820:
724:
594:
590:
322:
282:
84:
2724:
2711:
2562:
2514:
2458:
2317:
2263:
1748:
Analyse de la nature ou, Tableau de l'univers et des corps organisés
2672:
341:. The name of the family was introduced (as Alcedia) by the French
1719:(Version 7.2 ed.). International Ornithologists' Union.
1645:
1592:
1534:
1382:
243:
240:
is considered a bad omen by warriors of the Dusun tribe of Borneo.
231:
219:
207:
195:
616:, but is now thought to have been a member of an extinct family.
269:, of small to medium-sized, brightly coloured birds in the order
2300:
Schulz, M (1998). "Bats and other fauna in disused Fairy Martin
1989:"Complexity of avian evolution revealed by family-level genomes"
1622:
1141:
613:
609:
330:
104:
2566:
1563:
caused by forest clearance or degradation and in some cases by
1309:, respectively), and two uncommon or very local species each: (
1636:
Various kinds of kingfishers and human cultural artifacts are
2659:
1337:. Even tropical South America has only five species plus the
2161:
10.1642/0004-8038(2006)123[487:AMPOKA]2.0.CO;2
1519:
The eggs of kingfishers are invariably white. The typical
1841:. Collingwood, VIC, Australia: CSIRO. pp. 168–171.
204:
of New Guinea have unusually long tails for the group.
1508:
aid the dominant breeding pair in raising the young.
2506:
History and Nomenclature of Avian Family-Group Names
2575:
619:Amongst the three subfamilies, the Alcedininae are
348:in 1815. It is divided into three subfamilies, the
2522:Fry, C. Hilary; Fry, Kathie; Harris, Alan (1992).
2420:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T22683487A149519891.en
2331:Fry, C. Hilary; Fry, Kathie; Harris, Alan (1999).
1751:(in French). Palermo: Self-published. p. 66.
1798:Sibley, Charles G.; Monroe, Burt L., Jr (1990).
1547:due to the rapid loss of its rainforest habitat.
2058:
2056:
1800:Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds of the World
1345:ranges, particularly insular species which are
1331:and two large crested kingfishers in the genus
2441:Vuong, Quan-Hoang; Nguyen, Minh-Hoang (2023).
2335:. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 219–221.
8:
2230:
2218:
2206:
1861:
1839:Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds
1822:: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
1607:an omen bird, albeit generally a good omen.
2859:Taxa named by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque
1713:"Rollers, ground rollers & kingfishers"
1667:) is named after his wife, as is the genus
1640:, in reference to this metamorphosis myth:
593:kingfishers have been described from Lower
2563:
1234:The smallest species of kingfisher is the
581:The centre of kingfisher diversity is the
216:has a birdcall which sounds like laughter.
176:
36:
27:
2418:
2168:
2014:
2004:
1971:
1961:
1920:
1555:by human activities and are in danger of
224:Like many forest-living kingfishers, the
1802:. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
364:in 1841 while Halcyoninae introduced by
1837:Christidis, Les; Boles, Walter (2008).
1697:
1676:The belted kingfisher's specific name (
1431:
2188:from the original on 25 September 2019
2104:
2102:
2100:
2098:
2096:
2094:
2092:
2090:
2088:
2086:
1815:
1663:The kingfisher subfamily Halcyoninae (
630:The following cladogram is based on a
391:International Ornithological Committee
228:often nests in arboreal termite nests.
189: global range of the family
2041:. International Ornithologists' Union
1703:
1701:
7:
2787:fc5f8086-bc18-4916-83dd-c1c74e3c5806
2699:62b65b64-62f9-4caa-8a5f-6b9698026d49
2549:images and movies of the kingfisher
2524:Kingfishers, Bee-eaters, and Rollers
1872:
1870:
1785:
1773:
1755:from the original on 4 February 2021
2406:IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
2362:Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
2333:Kingfishers, Bee-eaters and Rollers
1723:from the original on 4 October 2018
1551:A number of species are considered
1317:in the southwestern United States,
1296:List of Coraciiformes by population
1133:
1042:
1035:
1028:
1006:– 9 species (paradise kingfishers)
976:
969:
908:
883:
876:
812:
787:
777:
716:
664:
657:
647:
637:
612:, which has also been considered a
516:
493:
436:
413:
406:
396:
389:and David Donsker on behalf of the
309:Taxonomy, systematics and evolution
2112:Handbook of the Birds of the World
2039:"IOC World Bird List Version 14.1"
585:, but the group originated in the
14:
2281:from the original on 12 July 2015
1987:Stiller, J.; et al. (2024).
608:, from the Lower Eocene rocks in
2480:from the original on 25 May 2017
1479:
1464:
1449:
1434:
988:– 2 species (lilac kingfishers)
61:
2559:on the Internet Bird Collection
2395:BirdLife International (2019).
1950:Molecular Biology and Evolution
1711:; Donsker, David, eds. (2017).
1353:is restricted to the island of
1877:Austin, Oliver Luther (1962).
1743:Rafinesque, Constantine Samuel
1459:breaking spine of tilapia fish
1:
2474:"Online Etymology Dictionary"
1486:Pellet of a common kingfisher
1349:to single small islands. The
446:– ground rollers (5 species)
346:Constantine Samuel Rafinesque
291:differences between the sexes
238:black-backed dwarf kingfisher
2526:. London: Christopher Helm.
2447:Pacific Conservation Biology
1078:) – 5 species (kookaburras)
542:– kingfishers (118 species)
317:Alcedinidae is in the order
1680:) also references her name.
21:Kingfisher (disambiguation)
2882:
2231:Fry, Fry & Harris 1992
2219:Fry, Fry & Harris 1992
2207:Fry, Fry & Harris 1992
2006:10.1038/s41586-024-07323-1
1862:Fry, Fry & Harris 1992
1541:rufous-collared kingfisher
1351:Kofiau paradise kingfisher
1293:
423:– bee-eaters (31 species)
321:, which also includes the
18:
2413:: e.T22683487A149519891.
1973:21.11116/0000-0007-B72A-C
1601:Oriental dwarf kingfisher
1323:white-throated kingfisher
1156:
1138:
1131:
1098:
1065:
1054:– hook-billed kingfisher
1047:
1040:
1033:
1026:
999:
981:
974:
967:
931:
913:
906:
888:
881:
874:
835:
817:
810:
792:
785:
775:
739:
721:
714:
687:
669:
662:
655:
645:
634:study published in 2017.
537:
521:
514:
498:
491:
457:
441:
434:
418:
411:
404:
275:cosmopolitan distribution
184:
175:
152:
147:
58:Scientific classification
56:
44:
35:
30:
2503:Bock, Walter J. (1994).
2140:Moyle, Robert G (2006).
2037:, eds. (December 2023).
1583:Relationship with humans
1427:shovel-billed kookaburra
1290:Distribution and habitat
1276:shovel-billed kookaburra
1236:African dwarf kingfisher
362:Charles Lucien Bonaparte
226:yellow-billed kingfisher
187:
2472:Douglas Harper (2001).
2065:Journal of Biogeography
1531:Status and conservation
526:– motmots (14 species)
462:– rollers (13 species)
366:Nicholas Aylward Vigors
356:(Alcedininae), and the
2399:Todiramphus godeffroyi
1963:10.1093/molbev/msaa191
1881:. Hamlyn. p. 175.
1638:named after the couple
1548:
1397:
632:molecular phylogenetic
255:
241:
229:
217:
205:
2808:Paleobiology Database
2374:10.1007/s002650050659
1660:) is named after him.
1577:critically endangered
1538:
1395:
1374:Behaviour and ecology
1363:red-backed kingfisher
503:– todies (5 species)
247:
235:
223:
211:
199:
2694:Fauna Europaea (new)
1776:, pp. 145, 252.
1569:Marquesan kingfisher
1416:, insects, spiders,
895:– banded kingfisher
202:paradise kingfishers
19:For other uses, see
2358:Dacelo novaeguineae
2233:, pp. 133–136.
2221:, pp. 231–232.
2209:, pp. 195–196.
1922:10.1038/nature15697
1913:2015Natur.526..569P
1256:Dacelo novaeguineae
1252:laughing kookaburra
387:Pamela C. Rasmussen
352:(Halcyoninae), the
2033:; Donsker, David;
1565:introduced species
1549:
1543:is categorised as
1404:, frogs and other
1398:
824:– pied kingfisher
587:Indomalayan region
583:Australasian realm
256:
242:
230:
218:
206:
2836:
2835:
2795:Open Tree of Life
2569:Taxon identifiers
2557:Kingfisher videos
2533:978-0-7136-8028-7
2342:978-0-7136-5206-2
2126:978-84-87334-30-6
2077:10.1111/jbi.13139
2035:Rasmussen, Pamela
1907:(7574): 569–573.
1848:978-0-643-09602-8
1809:978-0-300-04969-5
1678:Megaceryle alcyon
1655:river kingfishers
1612:sacred kingfisher
1605:banded kingfisher
1442:Common kingfisher
1393:
1311:ringed kingfisher
1307:belted kingfisher
1303:common kingfisher
1248:Megaceryle maxima
1240:Ispidina lecontei
1226:
1225:
1217:
1216:
1208:
1207:
1199:
1198:
1190:
1189:
1181:
1180:
1172:
1171:
1120:
1119:
1087:
1086:
1015:
1014:
956:
955:
947:
946:
860:
859:
851:
850:
764:
763:
755:
754:
703:
702:
578:
577:
569:
568:
560:
559:
551:
550:
480:
479:
471:
470:
444:Brachypteraciidae
358:water kingfishers
354:river kingfishers
303:common kingfisher
249:Forest kingfisher
194:
193:
143:
2871:
2829:
2828:
2816:
2815:
2803:
2802:
2790:
2789:
2780:
2779:
2767:
2766:
2764:NBNSYS0000159327
2754:
2753:
2741:
2740:
2728:
2727:
2715:
2714:
2702:
2701:
2689:
2688:
2676:
2675:
2663:
2662:
2650:
2649:
2637:
2636:
2624:
2623:
2611:
2610:
2609:
2596:
2595:
2594:
2564:
2537:
2518:
2490:
2489:
2487:
2485:
2469:
2463:
2462:
2438:
2432:
2431:
2429:
2427:
2422:
2392:
2386:
2385:
2353:
2347:
2346:
2328:
2322:
2321:
2297:
2291:
2290:
2288:
2286:
2280:
2249:
2240:
2234:
2228:
2222:
2216:
2210:
2204:
2198:
2197:
2195:
2193:
2187:
2172:
2146:
2137:
2131:
2130:
2106:
2081:
2080:
2060:
2051:
2050:
2048:
2046:
2027:
2021:
2020:
2018:
2008:
1984:
1978:
1977:
1975:
1965:
1941:
1935:
1934:
1924:
1889:
1883:
1882:
1874:
1865:
1859:
1853:
1852:
1834:
1828:
1827:
1821:
1813:
1795:
1789:
1783:
1777:
1771:
1765:
1764:
1762:
1760:
1739:
1733:
1732:
1730:
1728:
1705:
1665:tree kingfishers
1573:French Polynesia
1496:Kingfishers are
1483:
1468:
1457:Giant kingfisher
1453:
1438:
1394:
1379:Diet and feeding
1357:off New Guinea.
1315:green kingfisher
1244:giant kingfisher
1134:
1043:
1036:
1029:
977:
970:
909:
884:
877:
813:
788:
778:
717:
665:
658:
648:
638:
517:
494:
437:
414:
407:
397:
350:tree kingfishers
289:with only small
190:
188:
180:
138:
66:
65:
46:Azure kingfisher
40:
28:
2881:
2880:
2874:
2873:
2872:
2870:
2869:
2868:
2839:
2838:
2837:
2832:
2824:
2819:
2811:
2806:
2798:
2793:
2785:
2783:
2775:
2770:
2762:
2757:
2749:
2744:
2736:
2731:
2723:
2718:
2710:
2705:
2697:
2692:
2684:
2679:
2671:
2666:
2658:
2653:
2645:
2640:
2632:
2627:
2619:
2614:
2605:
2604:
2599:
2590:
2589:
2584:
2571:
2551:(Alcedo atthis)
2544:
2534:
2521:
2502:
2499:
2494:
2493:
2483:
2481:
2471:
2470:
2466:
2459:10.1071/PC23044
2440:
2439:
2435:
2425:
2423:
2394:
2393:
2389:
2355:
2354:
2350:
2343:
2330:
2329:
2325:
2318:10.1071/MU98026
2299:
2298:
2294:
2284:
2282:
2278:
2264:10.2307/4073818
2247:
2245:"Blue feathers"
2242:
2241:
2237:
2229:
2225:
2217:
2213:
2205:
2201:
2191:
2189:
2185:
2144:
2139:
2138:
2134:
2127:
2108:
2107:
2084:
2062:
2061:
2054:
2044:
2042:
2029:
2028:
2024:
1986:
1985:
1981:
1943:
1942:
1938:
1891:
1890:
1886:
1876:
1875:
1868:
1860:
1856:
1849:
1836:
1835:
1831:
1814:
1810:
1797:
1796:
1792:
1784:
1780:
1772:
1768:
1758:
1756:
1741:
1740:
1736:
1726:
1724:
1717:World Bird List
1707:
1706:
1699:
1694:
1585:
1545:near-threatened
1533:
1494:
1487:
1484:
1475:
1472:Pied kingfisher
1469:
1460:
1454:
1445:
1439:
1383:
1381:
1376:
1319:pied kingfisher
1298:
1292:
1284:pied kingfisher
1232:
1227:
1218:
1209:
1200:
1191:
1182:
1173:
1121:
1088:
1016:
957:
948:
861:
852:
765:
756:
704:
579:
570:
561:
552:
481:
472:
313:The kingfisher
311:
186:
185:
171:
137:
60:
24:
17:
16:Family of birds
12:
11:
5:
2879:
2878:
2875:
2867:
2866:
2861:
2856:
2851:
2841:
2840:
2834:
2833:
2831:
2830:
2817:
2804:
2791:
2781:
2768:
2755:
2742:
2729:
2716:
2703:
2690:
2681:Fauna Europaea
2677:
2664:
2651:
2638:
2625:
2612:
2597:
2581:
2579:
2573:
2572:
2567:
2561:
2560:
2554:
2543:
2542:External links
2540:
2539:
2538:
2532:
2519:
2498:
2495:
2492:
2491:
2464:
2433:
2387:
2368:(4): 220–229.
2348:
2341:
2323:
2312:(3): 184–191.
2292:
2258:(2): 275–300.
2235:
2223:
2211:
2199:
2155:(2): 487–499.
2132:
2125:
2082:
2052:
2022:
1979:
1956:(1): 108–127.
1936:
1884:
1866:
1854:
1847:
1829:
1808:
1790:
1788:, p. 118.
1778:
1766:
1734:
1696:
1695:
1693:
1690:
1682:
1681:
1674:
1661:
1584:
1581:
1532:
1529:
1493:
1490:
1489:
1488:
1485:
1478:
1476:
1474:killing a fish
1470:
1463:
1461:
1455:
1448:
1446:
1440:
1433:
1380:
1377:
1375:
1372:
1291:
1288:
1268:Tyndall effect
1231:
1228:
1224:
1223:
1220:
1219:
1215:
1214:
1211:
1210:
1206:
1205:
1202:
1201:
1197:
1196:
1193:
1192:
1188:
1187:
1184:
1183:
1179:
1178:
1175:
1174:
1170:
1169:
1166:
1165:
1155:
1152:
1151:
1148:
1147:
1137:
1132:
1130:
1127:
1126:
1123:
1122:
1118:
1117:
1114:
1113:
1111:) – 6 species
1097:
1094:
1093:
1090:
1089:
1085:
1084:
1081:
1080:
1064:
1061:
1060:
1057:
1056:
1046:
1041:
1039:
1034:
1032:
1027:
1025:
1022:
1021:
1018:
1017:
1013:
1012:
1009:
1008:
998:
995:
994:
991:
990:
980:
975:
973:
968:
966:
963:
962:
959:
958:
954:
953:
950:
949:
945:
944:
941:
940:
930:
927:
926:
923:
922:
912:
907:
905:
902:
901:
898:
897:
887:
882:
880:
875:
873:
867:
866:
863:
862:
858:
857:
854:
853:
849:
848:
845:
844:
834:
831:
830:
827:
826:
816:
811:
809:
806:
805:
802:
801:
791:
786:
784:
776:
774:
771:
770:
767:
766:
762:
761:
758:
757:
753:
752:
749:
748:
738:
735:
734:
731:
730:
720:
715:
713:
710:
709:
706:
705:
701:
700:
697:
696:
686:
683:
682:
679:
678:
668:
663:
661:
656:
654:
646:
644:
636:
576:
575:
572:
571:
567:
566:
563:
562:
558:
557:
554:
553:
549:
548:
545:
544:
536:
533:
532:
529:
528:
520:
515:
513:
510:
509:
506:
505:
497:
492:
490:
487:
486:
483:
482:
478:
477:
474:
473:
469:
468:
465:
464:
456:
453:
452:
449:
448:
440:
435:
433:
430:
429:
426:
425:
417:
412:
410:
405:
403:
395:
339:ground-rollers
310:
307:
273:. They have a
192:
191:
182:
181:
173:
172:
170:
169:
164:
159:
153:
150:
149:
145:
144:
132:
128:
127:
122:
118:
117:
112:
108:
107:
102:
98:
97:
92:
88:
87:
82:
78:
77:
72:
68:
67:
54:
53:
42:
41:
33:
32:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
2877:
2876:
2865:
2864:Ciconiiformes
2862:
2860:
2857:
2855:
2852:
2850:
2847:
2846:
2844:
2827:
2822:
2818:
2814:
2809:
2805:
2801:
2796:
2792:
2788:
2782:
2778:
2773:
2769:
2765:
2760:
2756:
2752:
2747:
2743:
2739:
2734:
2730:
2726:
2721:
2717:
2713:
2708:
2704:
2700:
2695:
2691:
2687:
2682:
2678:
2674:
2669:
2665:
2661:
2656:
2652:
2648:
2643:
2639:
2635:
2630:
2626:
2622:
2617:
2613:
2608:
2602:
2598:
2593:
2587:
2583:
2582:
2580:
2578:
2574:
2570:
2565:
2558:
2555:
2553:
2552:
2546:
2545:
2541:
2535:
2529:
2525:
2520:
2516:
2512:
2508:
2507:
2501:
2500:
2496:
2479:
2475:
2468:
2465:
2460:
2456:
2452:
2448:
2444:
2437:
2434:
2421:
2416:
2412:
2408:
2407:
2402:
2400:
2391:
2388:
2383:
2379:
2375:
2371:
2367:
2363:
2359:
2352:
2349:
2344:
2338:
2334:
2327:
2324:
2319:
2315:
2311:
2307:
2303:
2302:Hirundo ariel
2296:
2293:
2277:
2273:
2269:
2265:
2261:
2257:
2253:
2246:
2239:
2236:
2232:
2227:
2224:
2220:
2215:
2212:
2208:
2203:
2200:
2184:
2180:
2176:
2171:
2166:
2162:
2158:
2154:
2150:
2143:
2136:
2133:
2128:
2122:
2118:
2114:
2113:
2105:
2103:
2101:
2099:
2097:
2095:
2093:
2091:
2089:
2087:
2083:
2078:
2074:
2070:
2066:
2059:
2057:
2053:
2040:
2036:
2032:
2026:
2023:
2017:
2012:
2007:
2002:
1998:
1994:
1990:
1983:
1980:
1974:
1969:
1964:
1959:
1955:
1951:
1947:
1940:
1937:
1932:
1928:
1923:
1918:
1914:
1910:
1906:
1902:
1898:
1894:
1888:
1885:
1880:
1873:
1871:
1867:
1863:
1858:
1855:
1850:
1844:
1840:
1833:
1830:
1825:
1819:
1811:
1805:
1801:
1794:
1791:
1787:
1782:
1779:
1775:
1770:
1767:
1754:
1750:
1749:
1744:
1738:
1735:
1722:
1718:
1714:
1710:
1704:
1702:
1698:
1691:
1689:
1687:
1686:Alcedo atthis
1679:
1675:
1672:
1671:
1666:
1662:
1659:
1656:
1652:
1651:
1647:
1643:
1642:
1641:
1639:
1634:
1632:
1628:
1624:
1620:
1615:
1613:
1608:
1606:
1602:
1598:
1594:
1589:
1582:
1580:
1578:
1575:is listed as
1574:
1570:
1566:
1562:
1558:
1554:
1546:
1542:
1537:
1530:
1528:
1526:
1522:
1517:
1514:
1509:
1507:
1503:
1499:
1491:
1482:
1477:
1473:
1467:
1462:
1458:
1452:
1447:
1443:
1437:
1432:
1430:
1428:
1423:
1422:fairy martins
1419:
1415:
1411:
1407:
1403:
1378:
1373:
1371:
1369:
1364:
1358:
1356:
1352:
1348:
1342:
1340:
1336:
1335:
1330:
1329:
1324:
1320:
1316:
1312:
1308:
1304:
1297:
1289:
1287:
1285:
1279:
1277:
1271:
1269:
1264:
1259:
1257:
1253:
1249:
1245:
1241:
1237:
1229:
1222:
1221:
1213:
1212:
1204:
1203:
1195:
1194:
1186:
1185:
1177:
1176:
1168:
1167:
1164:
1163:– 30 species
1162:
1161:
1154:
1153:
1150:
1149:
1146:
1144:
1143:
1136:
1135:
1129:
1128:
1125:
1124:
1116:
1115:
1112:
1110:
1109:
1104:
1103:
1096:
1095:
1092:
1091:
1083:
1082:
1079:
1077:
1076:
1071:
1070:
1063:
1062:
1059:
1058:
1055:
1053:
1052:
1045:
1044:
1038:
1037:
1031:
1030:
1024:
1023:
1020:
1019:
1011:
1010:
1007:
1005:
1004:
997:
996:
993:
992:
989:
987:
986:
979:
978:
972:
971:
965:
964:
961:
960:
952:
951:
943:
942:
939:
938:– 12 species
937:
936:
929:
928:
925:
924:
921:
919:
918:
911:
910:
904:
903:
900:
899:
896:
894:
893:
886:
885:
879:
878:
872:
869:
868:
865:
864:
856:
855:
847:
846:
843:
841:
840:
833:
832:
829:
828:
825:
823:
822:
815:
814:
808:
807:
804:
803:
800:
798:
797:
790:
789:
783:
780:
779:
773:
772:
769:
768:
760:
759:
751:
750:
747:
746:– 21 species
745:
744:
737:
736:
733:
732:
729:
727:
726:
719:
718:
712:
711:
708:
707:
699:
698:
695:
693:
692:
685:
684:
681:
680:
677:
675:
674:
667:
666:
660:
659:
653:
650:
649:
643:
640:
639:
635:
633:
628:
626:
622:
617:
615:
611:
607:
606:
600:
596:
592:
588:
584:
574:
573:
565:
564:
556:
555:
547:
546:
543:
541:
535:
534:
531:
530:
527:
525:
519:
518:
512:
511:
508:
507:
504:
502:
496:
495:
489:
488:
485:
484:
476:
475:
467:
466:
463:
461:
455:
454:
451:
450:
447:
445:
439:
438:
432:
431:
428:
427:
424:
422:
416:
415:
409:
408:
402:
401:Coraciiformes
399:
398:
394:
392:
388:
384:
378:
376:
370:
367:
363:
359:
355:
351:
347:
344:
340:
336:
332:
328:
324:
320:
319:Coraciiformes
316:
308:
306:
304:
300:
294:
292:
288:
284:
280:
276:
272:
271:Coraciiformes
268:
264:
260:
254:
250:
246:
239:
234:
227:
222:
215:
210:
203:
198:
183:
179:
174:
168:
165:
163:
160:
158:
155:
154:
151:
146:
141:
136:
133:
130:
129:
126:
123:
120:
119:
116:
115:Coraciiformes
113:
110:
109:
106:
103:
100:
99:
96:
93:
90:
89:
86:
83:
80:
79:
76:
73:
70:
69:
64:
59:
55:
51:
47:
43:
39:
34:
29:
26:
22:
2576:
2550:
2523:
2505:
2482:. Retrieved
2467:
2450:
2446:
2436:
2424:. Retrieved
2410:
2404:
2398:
2390:
2365:
2361:
2357:
2351:
2332:
2326:
2309:
2305:
2301:
2295:
2283:. Retrieved
2255:
2251:
2238:
2226:
2214:
2202:
2190:. Retrieved
2152:
2148:
2135:
2111:
2068:
2064:
2043:. Retrieved
2025:
1996:
1992:
1982:
1953:
1949:
1939:
1904:
1900:
1887:
1878:
1864:, p. 8.
1857:
1838:
1832:
1799:
1793:
1781:
1769:
1757:. Retrieved
1747:
1737:
1725:. Retrieved
1716:
1685:
1683:
1677:
1669:
1653:(within the
1648:
1635:
1627:halcyon days
1616:
1609:
1590:
1586:
1561:habitat loss
1550:
1518:
1510:
1495:
1399:
1368:coral atolls
1359:
1343:
1332:
1328:Chloroceryle
1326:
1299:
1280:
1272:
1260:
1255:
1247:
1239:
1233:
1158:
1157:
1145:– 2 species
1140:
1139:
1106:
1100:
1099:
1073:
1067:
1066:
1049:
1048:
1001:
1000:
983:
982:
933:
932:
920:– 3 species
915:
914:
890:
889:
842:– 4 species
839:Chloroceryle
837:
836:
819:
818:
799:– 4 species
794:
793:
741:
740:
728:– 7 species
723:
722:
694:– 4 species
689:
688:
676:– 2 species
671:
670:
641:
629:
618:
603:
580:
539:
538:
522:
499:
458:
442:
419:
379:
371:
312:
295:
281:and 19
266:
258:
257:
148:Subfamilies
134:
124:
50:Ceyx azureus
49:
25:
2854:Kingfishers
2849:Alcedinidae
2720:iNaturalist
2621:Alcedinidae
2607:Alcedinidae
2601:Wikispecies
2577:Alcedinidae
2426:12 November
2071:(2): 1–13.
2031:Gill, Frank
1999:: 851–860.
1759:21 February
1709:Gill, Frank
1498:territorial
1402:crustaceans
1230:Description
1160:Todiramphus
1003:Tanysiptera
917:Pelargopsis
871:Halcyoninae
691:Corythornis
652:Alcedininae
642:Alcedinidae
540:Alcedinidae
279:subfamilies
267:Alcedinidae
259:Kingfishers
162:Halcyoninae
157:Alcedininae
135:Alcedinidae
31:Kingfisher
2843:Categories
2192:24 October
2170:1808/16596
1893:Prum, R.O.
1692:References
1595:people of
1557:extinction
1553:threatened
1502:monogamous
1418:centipedes
1406:amphibians
1334:Megaceryle
1294:See also:
1105:(includes
1102:Actenoides
1072:(includes
796:Megaceryle
605:Halcyornis
460:Coraciidae
383:Frank Gill
327:bee-eaters
299:threatened
253:Queensland
214:kookaburra
140:Rafinesque
121:Suborder:
2547:ARKive –
1818:cite book
1786:Bock 1994
1774:Bock 1994
1339:wintering
1108:Caridonax
1075:Clytoceyx
782:Cerylinae
625:Cerylinae
597:rocks in
524:Momotidae
421:Meropidae
167:Cerylinae
125:Alcedines
81:Kingdom:
75:Eukaryota
2592:Q8154335
2586:Wikidata
2515:2246/830
2478:Archived
2382:26382479
2304:nests".
2276:Archived
2183:Archived
2179:84824051
2016:11111414
1931:26444237
1753:Archived
1745:(1815).
1721:Archived
1591:For the
1525:incubate
1492:Breeding
1444:hovering
1414:molluscs
1051:Melidora
673:Ispidina
375:Pleiades
343:polymath
131:Family:
95:Chordata
91:Phylum:
85:Animalia
71:Domain:
2497:Sources
2484:14 July
2285:3 March
2272:4073818
2252:The Auk
2117:103–187
2045:17 June
1909:Bibcode
1670:Halcyon
1631:Alcyone
1619:Alcyone
1513:nesting
1506:helpers
1412:worms,
1410:annelid
1347:endemic
1263:plumage
985:Cittura
935:Halcyon
599:Wyoming
501:Todidae
393:(IOC).
373:of the
335:rollers
323:motmots
287:plumage
111:Order:
101:Class:
2826:196048
2800:938411
2784:NZOR:
2751:178104
2738:107493
2673:1ALCEF
2530:
2380:
2339:
2270:
2177:
2123:
2013:
1993:Nature
1929:
1901:Nature
1845:
1806:
1727:28 May
1658:family
1599:, the
1597:Borneo
1567:. The
1521:clutch
1355:Kofiau
1069:Dacelo
892:Lacedo
821:Ceryle
725:Alcedo
595:Eocene
591:Fossil
337:, and
331:todies
315:family
283:genera
265:, the
263:family
261:are a
142:, 1815
2821:WoRMS
2813:39386
2733:IRMNG
2686:10824
2378:S2CID
2279:(PDF)
2268:JSTOR
2248:(PDF)
2186:(PDF)
2175:S2CID
2145:(PDF)
1646:genus
1593:Dusun
621:basal
2777:8937
2772:NCBI
2746:ITIS
2725:2314
2712:2984
2707:GBIF
2668:EPPO
2660:7975
2634:1489
2629:BOLD
2528:ISBN
2486:2007
2428:2021
2411:2019
2360:)".
2337:ISBN
2287:2013
2194:2017
2121:ISBN
2047:2024
1927:PMID
1843:ISBN
1824:link
1804:ISBN
1761:2018
1729:2017
1650:Ceyx
1644:The
1623:Ceyx
1621:and
1610:The
1539:The
1321:and
1313:and
1305:and
1261:The
1142:Syma
743:Ceyx
614:gull
610:Kent
236:The
212:The
200:The
105:Aves
2759:NBN
2655:EoL
2647:66F
2642:CoL
2616:AFD
2511:hdl
2455:doi
2415:doi
2370:doi
2314:doi
2306:Emu
2260:doi
2165:hdl
2157:doi
2153:123
2149:Auk
2073:doi
2011:PMC
2001:doi
1997:629
1968:hdl
1958:doi
1917:doi
1905:526
1571:of
251:in
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2823::
2810::
2797::
2774::
2761::
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2173:.
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2151:.
2147:.
2119:.
2085:^
2069:45
2067:.
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2009:.
1995:.
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1954:38
1952:.
1948:.
1925:.
1915:.
1903:.
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