Kingfishers are a family of small to medium-sized bright-colored birds found all around the world. They get their name from their expertise in catching fish, which forms a large part of their diet. So the quick answer is yes, kingfisher birds do eat fish as one of their main sources of food.
What is a Kingfisher Bird?
Kingfishers belong to the family Alcedinidae and there are around 90 different species found globally. They are typically found living near the water, since their main prey are fish and other aquatic animals. Some key facts about kingfisher birds:
- Small to medium sized, 7-17 inches long depending on species
- Brightly colored plumage in shades of blue, green, reddish-orange, white, black.
- Strong, large beaks compared to head size for catching fish.
- Feed by perching until they spot prey then diving down to catch.
- Nest in burrows dug into riverbanks.
- Found on every continent except Antarctica.
The common kingfisher is the most widespread species and has the bright blue and orange plumage that people commonly associate with these birds. But there are many species across different genera with unique plumage colors and patterns.
Kingfisher Diet and Hunting
The majority of a kingfisher’s diet consists of fish and other aquatic creatures. Their hunting style and physiology is well-adapted for catching fish:
- Perch on branches overhanging water and watch for prey.
- Dive down swiftly when spotting movement.
- Use large bill to grasp and kill prey.
- Swallow smaller fish whole.
- Beat larger fish against branch to kill before swallowing.
- Vision adapted for seeing through water when diving.
In addition to fish, kingfishers may also occasionally eat crustaceans, frogs, worms, aquatic insects, small reptiles if living near water, and more rarely berries and seeds. The table below shows the approximate diet composition of the common kingfisher:
Prey | Percentage of Diet |
---|---|
Fish | 60-70% |
Aquatic Insects | 10-15% |
Crustaceans | 5-10% |
Frogs | 5-10% |
Other Aquatic Prey | 5-10% |
As shown, the majority of their food is fish, particularly smaller varieties like minnows, stickleback, and fry. The exact composition can vary based on habitat and species.
Specialized Hunting Adaptations
Kingfishers have several key adaptations that help them excel at catching fish:
- Bill shape – Large, long, dagger-like bill is ideal for spearing and holding slippery fish.
- Plumage – Bright iridescent blues/greens help camouflage against water backdrop when viewed from below.
- Feet – Three toes face forward and one back to provide better grip on slippery prey.
- Vision – Specialized retina with increased rod density enhances ability to spot prey through water.
- Plunging – Streamlined body shape and angled head/bill is adapted for diving at high speeds.
These adaptations make the kingfisher excellently equipped for catching fish and aquatic prey. Their skills are so specialized that generally over 90% of their diet is composed of aquatic animals.
Kingfisher Hunting Behavior
Kingfishers have distinctive hunting behaviors focused on optimizing their ability to catch fish:
- Perch patiently – Kingfishers perch on branches overhanging water, waiting completely still for long periods.
- Spot prey – Once movement is spotted, they precisely pinpoint the location by bobbing and turning their head.
- Plunge dive – They dive down at steep angles, plunging into the water head first to grab prey.
- Surface with prey – After seizing prey in their bill, they fly back up to their perch.
- Beat against branch – Large prey is beaten against the branch to kill it before swallowing.
- Swallow – They tip their head back to swallow smaller prey whole.
Kingfishers repeat this sequence continuously, perching and plunging, sometimes hundreds of times per day. With practice they become incredibly accurate, often plunging directly on top of a fish. Their hunting success rate is estimated between 25-50%.
Perching Locations
Kingfishers are very selective about their perching locations when hunting, favoring certain features:
- Overhanging branches – With clear view of the water below and space to plunge dive.
- Proximal to prey – Areas where fish and aquatic life are abundant.
- Minimal obstructions – Open areas without obstructions like vegetation or debris.
- Elevated vantage points – Higher perches provide better vantage point over more territory.
Finding locations with these optimum features is key to their hunting strategy. Kingfishers may use a single prime fishing perch for months. Ideal perching locations are so important that kingfishers will defend these areas vigorously from other kingfishers.
What Fish do Kingfishers Eat?
Kingfishers prey on a wide variety of small fish species including:
- Minnows
- Sticklebacks
- Goldfish
- Carp
- Trout
- Guppies
- Killifish
- Tetras
- Freshwater eels
They generally target smaller fish that can be swallowed whole. The average size of prey is 2-5 inches long. Some larger kingfisher species occasionally take fish up to 8-10 inches.
Besides fish, tadpoles, crayfish, shrimp, and aquatic insects like dragonfly larvae are also common prey. The composition varies based on habitat, with kingfishers that live near oceans eating more crustaceans.
Species | Typical Prey |
---|---|
Common Kingfisher | Minnows, sticklebacks, trout, eels |
Belted Kingfisher | Crayfish, carp, sunfish, perch, bass |
Pied Kingfisher | Cichlids, tilapia, mullet, minnows |
Collared Kingfisher | Gobies, mollusks, shrimp, crabs |
The variety of the prey depends on the habitat and species, but they universally target smaller aquatic life that can be caught and swallowed.
Do Kingfishers Eat Anything Besides Fish?
While fish make up the majority of their diet, kingfishers are opportunistic and will eat other prey besides fish when the opportunity arises. Some other food sources include:
Insects
Kingfishers eat a variety of insects, particularly dragonfly larvae, water beetles, and caddisfly larvae. These provide essential protein. Adults may feed insects to young as well.
Reptiles and Amphibians
Small frogs, toads, newts and lizards may supplement the diet, providing variation from fish. Tadpoles are also frequently eaten.
Crustaceans
Kingfishers living near the ocean regularly eat small crabs, shrimp and other crustaceans. These provide useful nutrients like calcium.
Berries
When available, kingfishers may occasionally supplement with berries and fruits. However, this makes up a very minor portion of their diet.
While kingfishers focus heavily on fish and aquatic prey, they will opportunistically eat any small animal or insect they can swallow. This supplements their diet with essential nutrients and provides some variation.
Do Kingfishers Eat Birds or Rodents?
Kingfishers do not generally hunt warm-blooded prey like birds or rodents. There are a few isolated reports of kingfishers possibly eating very small rodents like mice on rare occasions. However, birds and rodents do not typically factor into their diet for a few reasons:
- Hunting strategy is specialized for catching fish, not flying or terrestrial prey.
- Unable to swallow larger warm-blooded prey like adult mice or small birds.
- Likely can’t physically overpower and kill mammals/birds larger than tiny young.
- Easier to rely on abundant fish and insect food sources.
So while not impossible in rare cases, it is highly unusual for kingfishers to actively hunt birds, rodents or other terrestrial vertebrates. Their skills, behavior and physiology are precisely adapted for catching aquatic life.
Do Kingfishers Always Eat Fish they Catch?
Kingfishers do not necessarily swallow every fish they catch. Sometimes they release the fish for various reasons:
- Too large to swallow – Will seek smaller prey if fish is too big.
- Unsavory species – May reject unpleasant or spiky fish.
- Practice hunting – Young kingfishers may catch and release fish for practice.
- Disturbed while handling – Getting startled may cause them to drop the fish.
- Deliver to mate/young – Catch prey for mate or offspring at nest rather than self.
Kingfishers are selective and have preferences for certain fish species and sizes. So they do not automatically eat every single fish they manage to catch if it does not meet their criteria.
How Much Fish do Kingfishers Eat Daily?
The amount of fish a kingfisher eats per day depends on the size of the bird. Estimated average daily consumption:
- Small species: ~15-30 g of food per day
- Medium species: ~40-60 g of food per day
- Large species: ~70-100 g of food per day
With average small fish prey weighing 2-5 g each, a kingfisher may need to catch 10-20 fish per day to meet its nutritional requirements. However, they do not catch fish every plunge and often expend more energy than they ingest. During breeding season when working to feed chicks, the hunting quantity increases significantly.
How do Kingfishers Catch Fish?
Kingfishers have a unique and effective process for catching fish:
- Perch – Find ideal fishing perch overlooking water.
- Watch – Observe water below intently for prey movement.
- Dive – Plunge down at speeds up to 25 mph when spotting fish.
- Catch – Seize fish in bill, piercing vital organs.
- Surface – Fly back up to perch with fish.
- Subdue – If large, beat fish against branch to kill it.
- Swallow – Tilt head back and swallow fish whole.
The precision required takes practice, but adults can execute this sequence in seconds with excellent accuracy. The shape of their bill and body allows them to spear through the water and tightly grip slippery fish.
Dive Speeds and Angles
The speed and angle of their dives is optimized for catching fish:
- Dive speed – Can plunge up to 60 mph but average 15-25 mph.
- Dive angle – Steep angles up to 60-90 degrees.
- Entry – Head/bill enter water first to penetrate surface.
- Wings – Wings tucked tightly to reduce drag.
Combining high speeds and steep attack angles gives kingfishers the force necessary to drive deep enough to grab fish. Additionally, their streamlined body shape and folded wings help them knife cleanly into the water to reach the prey.
Kingfisher Fishing Adaptations
Several key adaptations make kingfishers supremely effective at catching fish:
Vision
– Extra cone-type retinal receptors improve fish detection.
– Eyes adapted for both air and water environments.
Bill
– Long, thick, dagger-like bill for spearing fish.
– Hooked tip helps secure fish.
Plumage
– Blue/green hues camouflage against water.
– Dense, water-repellent feathers keep kingfisher dry.
Feet
– Three front-facing, one back-facing toe improves grip on fish.
Plunge Diving
– Compact shape and streamlined feathers for diving.
– Neck vertebrae reinforced for hitting water at high speeds.
Every part of the kingfisher’s anatomy and behavior has evolved for specialization in fishing, making them unmatched in this singular skill.
Conclusion
In summary, kingfisher birds absolutely do eat fish as their primary food source. With their unique adaptations and hunting strategy optimized for catching fish, these birds are consummate fishermen in the avian world. A kingfisher’s diet consists of 60-90% fish on average, but they supplement with other aquatic animals like insects and crustaceans. While supremely adapted for catching fish, kingfishers are somewhat opportunistic and will eat any small prey they can swallow. However, they do not normally eat warm-blooded animals. Understanding the kingfisher’s diet provides insight into their exceptional fishing abilities and evolutionary adaptations.