Kingfishers (Alcedinidae)
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) - HBW 6, p. 238
French: Martin-pêcheur d’Europe
German: Eisvogel
Spanish: Martín Pescador Común
Other common names: River(!)/European/Eurasian Kingfisher, Kingfisher
Taxonomy: Gracula Atthis Linnaeus, 1758, Egypt.
Forms a superspecies with A. semitorquata, with which formerly considered conspecific; also closely related to A. hercules, range of which overlaps in NE India and SE Asia. Populations in C Asia, Afghanistan and Kashmir sometimes separated as pallasii on basis of shorter bill and paler underparts, but they seem to fall within normal range of variation of nominate; proposed race japonica included within bengalensis. Seven subspecies currently recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- ispida Linnaeus, 1758 - S Norway, British Is and Spain (except S & E) E to W Russia and Romania; winters S to S Portugal, N Africa, Cyprus and Iraq.
- atthis (Linnaeus, 1758) - NW Africa and S & E Spain E to Bulgaria, Afghanistan, NW India, C Siberia and NW China; winters S to Egypt, NE Sudan, Oman and Pakistan.
- bengalensis J. F. Gmelin, 1788 - C India E to SE Asia, S & E China (including Hainan), SE Siberia, E Mongolia and Japan; winters S to Greater Sundas, N Sulawesi, Sula Is, N Moluccas and Philippines.
- ispida Linnaeus, 1758 - S Norway, British Is and Spain (except S & E) E to W Russia and Romania; winters S to S Portugal, N Africa, Cyprus and Iraq.
- atthis (Linnaeus, 1758) - NW Africa and S & E Spain E to Bulgaria, Afghanistan, NW India, C Siberia and NW China; winters S to Egypt, NE Sudan, Oman and Pakistan.
- bengalensis J. F. Gmelin, 1788 - C India E to SE Asia, S & E China (including Hainan), SE Siberia, E Mongolia and Japan; winters S to Greater Sundas, N Sulawesi, Sula Is, N Moluccas and Philippines.
- taprobana Kleinschmidt, 1894 - India S of R Godavari, and Sri Lanka.
- floresiana Sharpe, 1892 - Bali and Lesser Sundas E to Wetar and Timor.
- hispidoides Lesson, 1837 - Sulawesi, Moluccas and W Papuan Is, and coastal E New Guinea from R Sepik and R Aroa to D’Entrecasteaux Is and Louisiade and Bismarck Archipelagos.
- salomonensis Rothschild & Hartert, 1905 - Solomon Is (Buka and Bougainville E to San Cristobal).
- Least Concern
-
A bird on a branch over the river, changing its position. Tenes river, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain (ssp atthis)
Pedro Rubio 30 October 2007 49 weeks ago 41 sec 4.5 -
A bird fishing, mandibulating and eating a fish. Tenes river, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain (ssp atthis)
Pedro Rubio 30 October 2007 49 weeks ago 48 sec 4.5 -
Hunting Kingfisher on the Kettstream ,Dülmen, North Rhine-Westphalia Germany
Christian Wiesmann 3 January 2010 33 weeks ago 39 sec 4.4 -
A bird on a trunk, looking around Ligneuville, Liège Province, Belgium (ssp ispida)
Jean Hupperetz 19 August 2005 3 years ago 21 sec 4.1 -
A bird on a branch, smashing and swallowing a fish Khao Yai National Park, North Eastern Thailand, Thailand (ssp bengalensis)
Josep del Hoyo 19 November 2004 4 years ago 26 sec 4.1 -
An adult preening on a branch Lynx Garden, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain (ssp atthis)
Pedro Rubio 27 January 2004 5 years ago 23 sec 4.1
-
Sitting on rock Hong Kong Park, Hong Kong
Bob Thompson 26 December 2009 35 weeks ago 4.5 -
Wintering bird, approachable due to only a few non-frozen spots. Stockholm County, Sweden
odburt 20 February 2009 1 year ago 4.2 -
Male waiting for prey Gironde, Aquitanie, France
Nicole Bouglouan 27 August 2005 28 weeks ago 4.1 -
Kingfisher female waiting for prey Gironde, Aquitanie, France
Nicole Bouglouan 14 November 2004 28 weeks ago 4.1 -
Sitting on a rock Al Wakra Beach, Qatar
John A Thompson 30 January 2006 11 weeks ago 4.1 -
A young bird on a branch near the river. Malmedy, Liège Province, Belgium
Franck Renard 22 August 2004 1 year ago 4.1
-
A bird calling. Bulgaria
Iva Hristova 8 September 2006 38 weeks ago 2
Email this page