Kingfisher

Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Kingfisher, provided by xeno-canto contributors.

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

UK Birds of Conservation Concern	Green listed
Species of European Conservation Concern	Least Concern
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)	Least Concern
Schedule 1 license required (to disturb)	Yes
Birds Directive Annex 1	Yes
Listed on the Annexes of	WCA(I), WBD(I), Bern(III)

The Kingfisher declined along linear waterways (its principal habitat) until the mid 1980s, since when it seems to have made a complete recovery, only to enter another decline, though numbers are still much higher now than in the mid 1980s. The initial decline was associated with a contraction of range in England (Gibbons et al. 1993). Though the amber listing of this species in the UK results from its 'depleted' status in Europe as a whole, numbers across Europe have fluctuated but have been broadly stable since 1991 (PECBMS: PECBMS 2020a>).

UK breeding population

No population change in UK (1995–2022)

Kingfishers are widely distributed on the lowland rivers of Britain & Ireland. They are resident, with some dispersal away from breeding territories outside the breeding period, especially by juvenile birds. In Britain this may explain the greater number of 10-km squares occupied in winter than in the breeding season.

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Occupied 10-km squares in UK

No. occupied in breeding season	1400
% occupied in breeding season	46
No. occupied in winter	1675
% occupied in winter	55

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

Breeding Season Habitats

Most frequent in

Along Rivers

Patterns of distribution change indicate large gains in winter range in both Britain and Ireland since the 1981–84 Winter Atlas, when numbers were at a low point following several cold winters.

Kingfishers are present throughout the year, though more likely to be recorded post-breeding in autumn.

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report

Maximum Age from Ringing	4 years 6 months 29 days (set in 2012)
Typical Lifespan	2 years with breeding typically at 1 year
Adult Survival	0.28   (Male: 0.28± Female: 0.28±)
Juvenile Survival	0.215 (in first year)

Wing Length	Adults	78.8±1.8 | Range 76–82mm, N=607
	Juveniles	78.8±1.7 | Range 76-82mm, N=2526
	Males	78.6±1.8 | Range 76–81mm, N=333
	Females	79.2±1.7 | Range 76–82mm, N=230

Body Weight	Adults	39.1±3.5 | Range 34.5–45.5g, N=554
	Juveniles	36.3±2.7 | Range 32.6–41.0g, N=2282
	Males	38.1±3 | Range 33.9–44.0g, N=307
	Females	40.4±3.6 | Range 35.4–46.6g, N=209

Feather measurements and photos on featherbase

Ring size	SO
Field Codes	2-letter: KF | 5-letter code: KINGF | Euring: 8310

For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name

Causes of change

It is likely that winter weather is the main cause of population change for Kingfisher, although the possible effects of other potential longer term drivers of change (e.g. changes to water quality) have not been investigated.

Further information on causes of change

Kingfishers suffer severe mortality during harsh winters (for instance in the 1981/82 winter) but, with up to three broods in a season, and up to six chicks in a brood, their potential for rapid population growth is high. It is likely, therefore, that winter weather is the main driver of population change.

Information about conservation actions

Whilst severe weather is believed to be the main driver of annual population changes for this species, continued improvements to water quality and the provision of new wetland habitats are likely to have benefitted this species.

The provision of artificial nesting sites may enable this species to breed at sites where good quality natural nesting sites are limited or absent. This may include artificial sand or earth banks (Hopkins 2001) or alternative options such as artificial burrows drilled into a limestone cliff which were used by both Sand Martins and Kingfisher (Gulickx et al. 2007).