Animal Description A brilliant flash of blue and orange, the Common Kingfisher is a small, fierce predator of Sri Lanka's waterways. Best identified by its iridescent blue back and rusty-orange belly, its life is a daily quest for fish, requiring it to eat a significant portion of its own body weight. This bird is a testament to the fact that size doesn't determine a predator's prowess. Its presence is often a welcome sign of a healthy aquatic habitat.
Bird Identification The key to identifying the Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) is its combination of size, plumage, and bill shape. It is a very small, dumpy bird with a large head, a short tail, and a dagger-like bill.
Size: Very small, about the size of a sparrow (16-17 cm). This is the smallest kingfisher you will find in Sri Lanka.
Plumage: The most striking feature is its iridescent, bright cobalt-blue back, rump, and tail, contrasting sharply with its rusty-orange underparts. It has a distinct white patch on its neck and a white throat.
Bill: A long, black, dagger-like bill. The female can be identified by the reddish-orange base to the lower mandible of her bill.
