Dans l’intimité des martins-pêcheurs

Kingfishers (Alcedinidae family) are a group of small to medium sized brightly coloured birds that have a cosmopolitan distribution, with most species being found in the Old World and Australasia.  There are roughly 90 species of kingfisher. All have large heads, long, sharp, pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails. Most species have bright plumage with little differences between the sexes. They consume a wide range of preys as well as fishes, usually caught by swooping down from a perch.
Michel Belaud met the Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) for the first time when, with his father, he went fishing in the Charente-Maritime marshes (Western France) : it was often only a fleeting vision of a small blue « arrow » flying just above the water of the ditches and channels.
In this article, Michel presents us the biology (breeding, fishing methods) of the Common Kingfisher based on his own observations, and illustrated with personal drawings and photos. He also sent us photos from other species he watched through the world.