Common kingfisher
Scientific name: Alcedo atthis (Linnaeus, 1758)
Overview
The common kingfisher, also known as the Eurasian kingfisher and river kingfisher, is a small kingfisher with seven subspecies recognized within its wide distribution across Eurasia and North Africa. It is resident in much of its range, but migrates from areas where rivers freeze in winter.
From the Wikipedia article “Common kingfisher”, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Conservation status
Least concern on the IUCN Red List, as recorded on Wikidata, citing The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021.3.
Size and lifespan
| Measurement | Value |
|---|---|
| Birth weight | 4.3 g |
Source: Wikidata, citing “AVIAN BODY SIZES IN RELATION TO FECUNDITY, MATING SYSTEM, DISPLAY BEHAVIOR, AND RESOURCE SHARING”, article by Terje Lislevand et al published June 2007 in Ecology.
Where it lives
The Catalogue of Life records it in: Africa; Australia; Europe & Northern Asia (excluding China); Oceania; Southern Asia.
Common names
Also known in English as European Kingfisher, Kingfisher.
Names in other languages (13)
- Arabic
- قرلى مألوف
- Bengali
- পাতি মাছরাঙা
- Chinese
- 普通翠鸟
- French
- martin-pêcheur, Martin-pêcheur d'Europe
- German
- Eisvogel
- Hindi
- छोटा किलकिला
- Indonesian
- Raja-udang erasia
- Japanese
- カワセミ
- Persian
- ماهیخورک
- Portuguese
- guarda-rios, Guarda-rios-comum
- Russian
- Зимородок, обыкновенный зимородок
- Spanish
- Martín pescador común
- Turkish
- Bayağı yalıçapkını
Related animals
Sources
-
Catalogue of Life — scientific name, classification, common names and range.
Version 2026-09-11, CC BY 4.0.
This species in the Catalogue of Life.
Citation
Bánki, O., Roskov, Y., Döring, M., Ower, G., Hernández Robles, D. R., Plata Corredor, C. A., Stjernegaard Jeppesen, T., Örn, A., Pape, T., Hobern, D., Garnett, S., Little, H., DeWalt, R. E., Miller, J., Orrell, T., Aalbu, R., Abbott, J., Aedo, C., Aescht, E., et al. (2026). Catalogue of Life (Version 2026-09-11). Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgz5n Source database: The Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
- GBIF — species page and recorded occurrences.
- Wikidata — conservation status, measurements, names in other languages. Q79915, CC0 1.0.
- Wikipedia — overview, from the article “Common kingfisher”, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Photo — Artemy Voikhansky, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. File page.
- Range map — derivative work: Snowmanradio (talk) Alcedo_atthis_-Verbreitungskarte.png: de:Benutzer:Devil_m25 The original uploader was Devil m25 at German Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. File page.
Last updated: 4 October 2026