A beautiful species and the view of one disappearing in a flash up a valley is a sight one never forgets.
It has a beak that is one third the length of its body, and although colourful with blue wings, aquamarine back and a red chest, it can be surprisingly difficult to notice as it sits quietly on a bare branch looking down intently for small fish. Resident and breeds in holes burrowed into banks of streams and lakes. Kingfishers fly low and fast with wing-beats a blur of motion, but can, when appropriate perches are unavailable, hover before a vertical dive onto its prey.
Sexes are told apart by the colour of the beak, the male's being all black while the female's has a red base to the lower mandible.
If you're really wanting to see these birds one of the best months is July when there are plenty about and they often perch right in front of our Water Rail and Kingfisher Hide.
