Bird
🐦
🐦
Size
16 cmAbout the size of a house sparrow but stockier
Weight
34–46 gAbout the weight of a small plum
Lifespan
2 years
Rarity
Uncommon
M vs F
Males have a fully black-orange bill; females have an orange-red lower mandible — the easiest way to tell them apart
Habitat
Slow-moving rivers, lakes, canals — always near clear, shallow water
Best time
Year-round; most visible autumn when juveniles spread out
Conservation
UK: Amber
LC
💡 Did you know?
Kingfishers close their eyes just before hitting the water — their dive trajectory and depth are calculated entirely before impact
They can see underwater due to a transparent nictitating membrane over the eye, and their brain automatically corrects for light refraction to pinpoint fish
Often confused with
Dipper (dark brown
white bib
smaller)
no other bird has this colour combination in the UK
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