Jeff Wendorff's bird photography portfolio of kingfishers from the family, Alecdinidae
Kingfisher WikiKingfishers are a group of small to medium-sized, brightly colored birds in the order Coraciiformes. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, with most species found outside of the Americas.
Roughly 114 species of
kingfishers have been described. All have large heads, long, sharp, pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails. Most species have bright plumage with few differences between the sexes. Most species are tropical in distribution, and a slight majority are found only in forests.
Kingfishers consume a wide range of prey, as well as fish, usually caught by swooping down from a perch. While
kingfishers are usually thought to live near rivers and eat fish, most species live away from water and eat small invertebrates. Like other members of their order, they nest in cavities, usually tunnels dug into the natural or artificial banks in the ground. A quarter of all
kingfishers nest in abandoned termite nests.
Collective Noun A group of
kingfishers is collectively named a concentration, realm or crown. The collective noun for
Belted Kingfishers is a rattle, and
Green Kingfishers are called a clique or concentration.
Kingfishers are among my favorite birds to photograph. Most of my bird photography workshops and tours include the possibility to photograph
kingfishers. Check out
Wildlife Workshops to find a photography workshop that suits your eye!
