The Kingfisher

(Alcedo atthis)

Index:

Description

courship and copulation

Growth of the offspring

danger and protection

Naming

Food and getting food

Enemies of the offspring

living space

Attitude

Mythology and cult

Description:

- short, compact body with short legs

- short tail feathers

- straight built wings

- 4 cm long, acuminat beak

- 16 cm - 18 cm big

- 35 g - 40 g weight

- Wingspread 25 cm

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Living space:

sole in central Europe founded species out of the family of the kingfishers

Europe, Asia, western Northafrika

sedentaly bird in in West-and central Europe

Migrantbird in east Europe and centralasia

hibernation isn‘t explored enough yet

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Food and getting food

fishes, watter insects larvas small cacels crab and pollywogs

maximun Size of the fisch : max. 9 cm long and 2 cm back tallness

The hunt method is the pull submerge (after sitting calm and lurking at a branch above the water, he barges headfirst into the water and he rushes with short lapses)

not every dive is successful

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Courship and copolation

the cave is 40 cm – 80 cm long

Male and female built their cave together

both watch and guard their nest

It lasts 2 -3 weeks till the cave is done

altogether they lay 6 - 8 eggs weight of the eggs 4,4 g

30% to 40% of the eggs persihcontent

Males: brings small fish

Females: calling and vibrating with her wings, she takes the pray.

Growth of the offspring

they are nude and blind

they open their eyes on the 10th day

after 14 days they‘ve already got plumes

their weight amounts 55 - 60 g

23 - 28 days after their eclosion first excursion

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Attitude

territorial rogue

they stay almost in one teritorium and they are only during daytime

aggressive behaviour towards other kingfishers while breeding

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Enemies of the offspring

molesfoxes

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Mouse

weasels rats

coons

Danger and protectionThe Kingfisher is according to §10 Abs. 2 Nr. 5 and 11 BNatSchGa tightly protected species in Germany.

The Destruction of the living space because at the aismantling and regulation of the rivers as well as draining of the wetland.

Inland navigation way

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appellation

name orignates from the Greek language

former synonyms: ripariaspecker, water broiler, Lord of fisher

The britisch: Kingfisher

Sweden: Kungsfiskare

France, Spain and Italy: St-Martins-bird or Martinsfisher

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Mythology and cult legends af alatin, Greek and french origin

In the 19. century plumes are fancies

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