Kingfisher

Description:

The Kingfisher is a stunning bird with a distinctive sharp beak, blue-green back, and orange belly. They also have a short tail and long pointed wings.

What they eat:

Kingfishers mainly feed on small fish, insects, and freshwater crustaceans. They are skilled hunters and can dive into the water with precision and speed to catch their prey.

Habitat:

The Kingfisher is commonly found near streams, rivers, lakes, and canals. They prefer to live in areas with steep banks and overhanging branches or vegetation which provides them with shelter.

Size and wingspan:

The Kingfisher is a small bird with a length of 16-17 cm and a wingspan of 25-29 cm.

Male-female difference:

The male and female kingfishers are almost identical in appearance. However, the lower half of the female's bill is a red/orange colour, and this is the easiest way to tell them apart.

Where to find:

Kingfishers are rare to spot in Ireland but can be seen along the River Shannon, Lough Derg, and other large waterways.

What months can be found in Ireland:

Kingfishers can be spotted in Ireland all year round, but it's more likely to see them between April and August during the breeding season.

Interesting note:

Kingfishers are known to be territorial birds and will defend their territory fiercely against any other kingfisher. They are also capable of swimming underwater to catch their prey and use their beak to stun the fish before swallowing it whole.