Birds of Ireland: Kingfisher

A kingfisher is smaller than a starling and both sexes look similar. Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire

Kingfisher | Cruidín | Alcedo atthis

Kingfishers are around 16-18cm long with a wingspan of 24-26cm. They are a common breeding species found here all year round in wetland areas. 

A kingfisher is smaller than a starling and both sexes look similar. They have a metallic-looking pale blue back and an orange breast and belly with a white neck patch. Kingfishers have short, rounded sky-blue wings with white spots on the inner half. And they have a dagger-shaped beak and very short pink-red legs. 

The male has an all-dark beak and female has orange-red towards the base of the lower mandible.

In flight, kingfishers look like a blue flash; they have a low, straight, buzzing flight with occasional gliding. They dive from branches and other perches over water and can be seen on the coast in winter.

A kingfisher's call is a very loud, piercing pseeeeee, often repeated several times, usually in flight.

Birds of Ireland: Kingfisher

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'Habitat' describes where the bird is usually found in Ireland and may help with identification. 

Having said that, birds can turn up in the most unlikely habitats, well away from where they are typically found. After storms, for instance, gannets, which usually stay well out to sea, have turned up in fields and on ponds quite far inland. Some species spend the breeding season in one habitat and use different habitats outside the breeding season. Kingfishers generally breed on freshwater rivers but can be seen in estuaries and on the coast in winter. Be very cautious, but never rule out identifying a species based on where you see it.

In flight, kingfishers look like a blue flash; they have a low, straight, buzzing flight with occasional gliding. They dive from branches and other perches over water and can be seen on the coast in winter. Picture: Andrew Brown/Solent News/Shutterstock

The habitat types mentioned in Birds of Ireland are:

• Sea: mainly at sea, usually away from the coast.
• Coast: mainly along the coast, sandy or rocky shore, and associated habitats such as cliffs, coastal grassland, sand dune and lagoon.
• Estuary: where a river enters the sea and the water is mainly saltwater and tidal. Also associated habitats such as mudflat and saltmarsh, etc.
• Wetland: all freshwater habitats such as stream, river, lake, and associated habitats such as reed bed, bog, canal and man-made ponds, etc.
• Farmland: any cultivated land, tillage, grassland, hedgerows, and associated habitats such as fallow land and uncultivated meadow, etc.
• Woodland: any substantial natural, semi-natural or planted deciduous, coniferous or mixed wooded area, and associated habitat such as understorey growth, etc.
• Upland: any area of high ground free of trees or shrubs.
• Garden: any garden, big or small, rural, suburban or urban.
• Suburban: a mixture of moderate housing density and gardens.
• Urban: High-density housing with few gardens and associated parks, etc

Birds of Ireland: A field guide By Jim Wilson, with photographs by Mark Carmody 

Featured in Birds of Ireland: A field guide

• Jim Wilson is a wildlife writer, broadcaster, tour leader, and former chairman of BirdWatch Ireland. He has been involved in the study and conservation of birds in Ireland for more than 45 years, contributing to several major surveys and international projects.
• Mark Carmody is an award-winning wildlife photographer, has a PhD in biochemistry and works as a European patent attorney.