Kingfisher

What am I?

I'm a bit of an odd one out.

Where do I come from?

Some of us migrate down river towards the coast for winter, so the colder months are the best time to see us near the sea.

A bit about me

I am stunning, if I may say so myself, with bright blue and orange feathers, and a large, pointed bill. You can find me year-round in still or slow-moving water habitats such as lakes, canals, and rivers, where I hunt for fish and aquatic insects from perches. You'll most likely see me as a flash of dazzling blue swooping past or diving into the water. Unlike most birds, we don't build nests but dig out tunnels in sandy riverbanks instead. I am the only kingfisher species found in the UK and, despite the name, many of my relatives worldwide don't even eat fish!

Fun fact

To survive, I must eat my own body weight in fish every day!

Local spotlight

I'm fairly widespread across the Solent.

Conservation status

I'm amber listed in the UK .

My name might not be listed in the Solent's Special Protection Areas but I am still definitely important for the coastal ecosystem and form part of the waterbird assemblages which these regions are protected for.