| Species fact sheet | by Global Register of Migratory Species - www.groms.de |
| Use the GROMS database for dynamic search for migratory species, new links and references. |
| Alcedo atthis | (Linnaeus, 1758) |
| Synonym: | |
| Family: | Alcedinidae |
| Order: | Coraciiformes |
| English: | Common Kingfisher |
| French: | Martin-pêcheur d'Europe |
| Spanish: | Martín pescador común |
| German: | Eisvogel (There's a German version of this page!) |
| Norwegian: | Isfugl (There's a Norwegian version of this page!) |
| Migration: | partial |
| Regions | [...] |
“N populations, in areas where freezing conditions in winter, regularly migrates S, generally staying within species' breeding range; populations in C Europe migrate in severe winters, and S populations (e.g. in Spain) are mainly sedentary. Distance moved varies, up to 250 km in Britain, 500 km in France and Belgium, 1500 km in Czechoslovakia, to 3000 km in Russia; non-breeding birds present in N Africa Sept-Apr and in Sudan Oct-Apr. In Hokkaido (N Japan), birds depart in mid-Sept and return late Apr or early May. One ringed in Korea was recovered 2 months later in Luzon, in N Philippines. In S Malay Peninsula, birds were netted at Fraser's Hill only during Aug-Oct, but at Selangor they were present Aug-Mar. Migrates mainly at night, and pronounced movements evident along Mediterranean shores and over Malaysian mountains in autumn; during migration may form small flocks. Wintering birds establish territories, and juveniles may stay together as pairs or groups.”
del Hoyo J, Elliot A, Sargatal J (eds) (2001), Handbook of the birds of the world. Vol. 6: Mousebirds to Hornbills, p. 238
Further detailed information from the GROMS-database
Recommended link(s):
| www.naturia.per.sg | |
| ARKive | Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis): description, pictures, movies... |
| www.birdingintaiwan.com | Birding in Taiwan |
| www.birdguides.com | |
| BirdLife international | |
| Wikipedia | |
| www.birdforum.net | BirdForum Birds Database |
| BTOWeb | (British Trust for Ornithology) BirdFacts |
| BTO | BTO / Joint Nature Conservation Committee — Breeding Birds in the Wider Countryside: Kingfisher Alcedo atthis |
| bbc.co.uk | BBC Homepage |
| RSPB | The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds |
| www.biodiversityscotland.gov.uk | The Scottish Biodiversity List — Species & Habitat Detail |
| www.birdsofbritain.co.uk | Birds of Britain — The Monthly Web Magazine for Birdwatchers |
| NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM |
Natural History Museum, London |
| Animal Diversity Web | University of Michigan - Museum of Zoology |
| www.iucnredlist.org | The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species – Species Information: Alcedo atthis |
To gather more information about birds in general see the link collection at connotea.org: aves
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by Ansgar Tappenhölter