Kingfisher

When: All year

Scientific name: Alcedo atthis

Gaelic name: biorra-crùidein

Size: Smaller than a blackbird, wingspan around 25cm

Where: Around freshwater - Black Devon River, Bluther Burn in Valleyfield woods

Despite their electric colouring and recent resurgence in Scotland, kingfishers are still an elusive sighting for many. The Inner Forth area is lucky enough to play home to these beautiful birds, but you'll have to be quick if you want to spot them, as they are famed for their sudden disappearances, should they be disturbed.

Kingfishers are unmistakeable when spotted. The bright, cobalt blue of their wings and back contrast perfectly with the rusty orange of the breast, intersected around the neck with a white band. The sturdy bill also gives the kingfisher quite a distinctive shape, rather different from most other UK birds of its size. The bill is highly aerodynamic, enabling the kingfisher to pin point its prey in the water and snap up a tasty, fishy morsel from rivers and ponds.

You are most likely to spot a kingfisher while meandering along a riverside path - look ahead on branches hanging over the watercourse to see if you can pick out the brilliant blue amongst the foliage. Fallen trees and logs floating in the water can also provide good perches for these expert fishers. They will scan the watery depths for the movement of fish, and can precisely calculate the speed and depths at which they need to dive to catch their prey. 

There are over 80 species of kingfisher worldwide, and so there are many superstitions and traditions associated with them across different cultures. Perhaps the most famous comes from Greek mythology; according to one story, kingfishers typically chose piles of fish bones on which to make their nests, creating a raft that would float out at sea. The female would then lay her eggs and the Greek gods would always ensure a period of calm on the sea, for the seven days before and seven days after the winter solstice, during which the pair incubated their brood. The Greek name for kingfishers are 'Halcyon birds', from which the phrase of "Halcyon Days" comes from, referring to a time of peace and tranquility.

For more information on these vibrant residents of the Inner Forth, visit https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/canal-and-river-wildlife/a-spotters-guide-to-waterway-wildlife/kingfisher-waterway-wildlife

Photo: R Trevis Smith