Kingfishers

Kingfishers are small birds with bright, shiny feathers. Many have blue, green, and orange colors. They live near rivers, lakes, and streams. Kingfishers are amazing fishers. They dive straight down into the water to catch fish.

Expert Divers

A kingfisher sits on a branch above the water. It watches carefully for fish swimming below. When it spots one, it dives headfirst into the water. Its sharp beak grabs the fish quickly. Then it flies back to its perch to eat.

A map showing where kingfishers live around the world.
A map showing where kingfishers live around the world. (Phoenix_B_1of3 (talk) (Uploads) / Wikimedia Commons)

Burrow Homes

Kingfishers build their nests in dirt banks near water. They dig long tunnels with their beaks and feet. At the end of the tunnel is a small room for their eggs. Both parents help dig the burrow. They feed their chicks lots of fish.

Fun Facts

  • There are about 90 kinds of kingfishers in the world.
  • Some kingfishers do not live near water and eat bugs instead.
  • A kingfisher can dive over two feet underwater.

Did You Know?

The shape of a kingfisher's beak helped engineers design faster, quieter trains in Japan.