One Planet News: The Jewel of the River
The European Kingfisher bringing vibrant colour to waterways
By Annette J Beveridge
A FLASH of blue and orange darting over the water is often the most people see of our most colourful bird, but the European kingfisher is a fascinating bird and plays an important role in Britain's freshwater ecosystems.
Diet and Hunting Techniques
Skilled at hunting, a kingfisher relies on keen eyesight and rapid reflexes to catch its prey. Its diet consists mainly of small fish such as sticklebacks and minnows, but it also eats aquatic insects, tadpoles, and small crustaceans when fish are scarce.
Kingfishers hunt from a perch. They watch patiently for any sign of movement in the water below, and once a target is spotted, the bird dives headfirst with remarkable precision. It uses its sharp bill to snatch the prey. With the fish captured in its beak, the kingfisher will return to a perch to beat the catch against a branch to kill it before swallowing it whole, head first.
Breeding and Nesting Habits
Breeding season for the European kingfisher begins in late March or early April and can extend throughout the months to August. Pairs typically form monogamous bonds during this period and may raise two or even three broods in a single season. Both the male and female dig a horizontal nesting tunnel in an earthen riverbank.
The nesting tunnel can be up to a metre long and ends in a small chamber where the female lays 5–7 glossy white eggs.
Incubation lasts around 19–21 days and is shared by both parents. Once hatched, the parent birds are under pressure to feed the young up to 100 times a day, highlighting the parents’ relentless efforts to keep their offspring nourished. Fledging occurs about 24–27 days after hatching.
Young kingfishers are independent shortly after leaving the nest and are quickly pushed away from the parents’ territory to find their own.
Territorial Behaviour
European kingfishers are highly territorial birds, particularly during the breeding season. Males and females establish and defend separate fishing territories when not raising chicks, and these territories are often vigorously defended from intruders.
A single territory typically spans 1–3 kilometres of river or stream and must include clear, slow-moving water rich in fish. Competition for suitable territories can be intense, especially in areas where human disturbance or pollution has degraded aquatic habitats.
If a kingfisher’s territory becomes unsuitable due to flooding, pollution, or food scarcity, the bird may abandon the site in search of a better one. Sadly, many young kingfishers do not survive their first winter. Mortality in the species is often linked to harsh weather.
Conservation Status
Although not currently considered endangered, the European kingfisher is vulnerable to habitat loss, water pollution, and disturbances caused by human activity.
Conservation efforts in the UK focus on protecting clean waterways, although rivers are often in an unhealthy state due to forever-chemicals and sewage. The presence of kingfishers is often seen as a sign of a healthy aquatic environment, making them not only a beautiful sight but also an important indicator species.
With their vivid colours and secretive habits, European kingfishers remain a treasured part of Britain’s natural heritage.