Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

With its electric blue back and orange underparts, the brightly coloured Kingfisher is a distinctive bird seen throughout the year on many Norfolk rivers and in the Norfolk Broads.

Conservation status in Norfolk

Kingfisher numbers in Norfolk have probably increased in recent years with milder winters undoubtedly enabling greater numbers to survive the winter. In England, however, Kingfisher numbers have declined perhaps because of factors such as river pollution, wetland drainage and clearance of bank side vegetation. While the species has been recorded in many areas of the country, the number of known breeding areas is surprisingly small.

Click to see the Biodiversity Action Plan Species for this species

How to help

Protect known nesting sites so that kingfishers can continue to breed each year. Artificial banks can be created where there are water bodies used by kingfishers but lacking suitable nesting sites.

Adopt me today and help ensure my future!

Brian McFarlane Strumpshaw Aug 2007

Brain McFarlane Strumpshaw Aug 2007

Information on the Kingfisher

How to recognise

Kingfishers can appear blue, green or even almost black. Under most conditions, the kingfisher’s back and the top of the head are electric blue and the underparts bright orange – a colour combination displayed by no other British bird. The shape is very distinctive, it has a plump rounded body, short tail, legs so short that usually only the feet are visible. Often their presence is announced by a shrill whistle most often given in flight.

Where to see

Many Norfolk rivers support kingfishers. They favour areas with plentiful supplies of small fish and rivers with vertical sandy banks in which they can excavate a nest hole. In winter, especially in spells of hard weather, birds will move to estuaries and coastal creeks where water remains unfrozen. A good place to look for kingfishers is the Norfolk Broads where they can be seen throughout the year although populations may be limited due to lack of suitable breeding sites as the reed-fringed edges of broads lack high banks. Lakes, rivers and even garden ponds may be visited by Kingfishers on occasion. The Kingfisher is most active at dawn and this is the most likely time to see them. Even within the city of Norwich kingfishers are regularly recorded on the rivers.

When to see

Throughout the year. Courtship starts early in the year around February and March. Some early young hatch in April and some pairs have up to 3 broods a year. During July young Kingfishers become independent. Young disperse from the breeding area during September and this is when they can often be seen visiting garden ponds.

Did you know?

It was once thought that wearing a kingfisher’s feather protected the wearer from being struck by lightning.
The bright colours of kingfisher feathers are not due to pigments but caused by the way the feather reflects light.
Kingfishers were a favourite target for taxidermists in the past and sadly many were shot in Norfolk in late Victorian days and ended up stuffed in glass cases.

Finding out more

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

British Trust for Ornithology

Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust

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