What Do Kingfishers Eat? (Diet + Behavior)

As their name suggests, kingfishers are among nature’s most skilled waterside bird predators, mastering the art of diving into still or slow-moving water and surfacing with their mouthfuls full of fish.

But do kingfishers only eat fish or do they have a more varied diet? Read on to learn more.

Kingfishers are known for their precise dives into lakes, rivers and streams from their waterside perches, holding fish tightly with their beaks. Banded kingfishers occasionally feed on insects, crustaceans, and sometimes amphibians, reptiles, and mammals.

There are more than 90 species of kingfishers, but in this article we will focus on the banded kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon, The most abundant member of the kingfisher family in North America) and the iconic metallic blue common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis, widely distributed in Europe and Asia).

belt kingfisher

kingfisher

Kingfishers are very good at catching small fish from below the surface and can often be seen patiently scanning fishing spots for hours before moving on.

When feeding burrows full of hungry chicks, their fishing activity increases, requiring more than 100 fish per day to feed the young.

To learn more about the types of fish banded and common kingfishers hunt, how often they hunt, and whether they have a favorite time of day to fish, read on.

What type of fish do kingfishers eat?

The most common fish in the belted kingfisher’s diet include sticklebacks, mummichogs, trout and stone rolls. Fish 90 to 140 mm (3.5-5.5 in) are usually preferred.

For common kingfishers, fish around 23 mm (0.9 in) are preferred, but any fish up to 80-125 mm (3.1-4.7 in) long is a target, including minnows, sticklebacks, roaches, barb, grayling and carp.

Belted Kingfisher and Recently Caught Fish

How much fish do kingfishers eat in a day?

Kingfishers typically eat 50 to 60 percent of their body weight each day, estimated at 13 to 21 fish.

When feeding the chicks, it takes about 100 fish per day to meet the needs of the growing chicks. It’s no easy feat, but with the precision fishing techniques these majestic birds have developed, day in and day out, it’s achievable.

What else do kingfishers eat besides fish?

While freshwater fish make up the largest component of a kingfisher’s diet, other prey may also be sought, including amphibians, crustaceans, insects, and small mammals and reptiles found along river banks.

On days when fishing is slow, the common kingfisher may eat insects it catches from its waterside perches near streams or lakes. Other backup dietary options include tadpoles and freshwater prawns, but these should only be used as a last resort.

Some kingfisher species do not eat fish at all. There are about 90 species of kingfishers in Asia, Africa and Australia, with smaller species feeding on invertebrates and larger woodland kingfishers preying on frogs, rodents and reptiles.

Perched common kingfisher with a fish in its beak

Do Kingfishers Eat Other Birds?

Although not a common or central element of the belted kingfisher’s diet, it may occasionally prey on chicks, especially quail and sparrows. There are no records of common kingfishers eating other birds.

How do kingfishers hunt?

Kingfishers wait patiently in perches near the water’s edge, watching for movement near the surface of the lake or river. Once they spot a suitable fish, they dive headfirst into the water to catch their prey. These steep dives are usually less than a meter deep, and they emerge from the water to catch fish with their sharp beaks.

Once out of the water, they fly to a nearby perch and continue to hold the fish tightly in their beaks while slamming the fish against a branch or bank, stunning it. This makes it easier to maneuver, turning it until it can be swallowed first.

If a site with abundant fish is found, the same bass will be used regularly for daily foraging and hunting trips. Kingfishers may also wait near where other birds, such as egrets, feed, and then use signposts to find a good fishing spot.

Insects such as damselflies, butterflies, moths and mayflies are caught mid-flight, while kingfishers swoop near the water or hover near tree branches to catch beetles and caterpillars.

Kingfisher emerges from water with fish

Are Kingfishers Carnivores?

Belted kingfishers are classified as carnivores because their diet consists mainly of fish and crustaceans, with occasional insects, small amphibians, and mammals. The common kingfisher feeds primarily on fish and is therefore also considered a carnivore.

However, there are few reports of belted kingfishers eating berries in winter and common kingfishers eating waterside reed stalks.

How Often Do Kingfishers Eat?

Banded kingfishers can be seen throughout the day as they skim the lake or flit over the river. Feeding activities are more concentrated in the early morning and evening.

Observations of the common kingfisher have also established that the main hunting and feeding times are early morning and evening.

Belted Kingfisher comes to land with a freshly caught small fish

What do little kingfishers eat?

Belted kingfisher juveniles initially feed on regurgitated, partially digested fish. Five days after hatching, the first whole fish is brought to the chicks, with the male taking the lead in feeding duties. The young are fed in the morning and evening and are largely left unattended during this time.

Young kingfishers are eaten by both parents with fish, which gradually increase in size as the chicks grow up. During the first few days of life, 1-2 cm long fish are brought back every 45 to 50 minutes.

Chicks under 10 days of age are fed 3 cm long fish every 20-25 minutes, increasing to every 15-20 minutes by 18 days of age, chicks are fed larger fish, approximately 5 to 8 cm long .

Kingfisher feeding chicks

How can I attract kingfishers?

Kingfishers thrive in water environments where suitable sites are nearby, where they can build tunnel-like nests in which to raise their young.

Any garden pond needs to be full of fish and be of the right size and depth for their sneaky hunting techniques. Open space around the water feature and waterside trees or shrubs that can be used as habitat will be a bonus.

What to Feed a Kingfisher?

Kingfishers are active hunters and they will always find food on their own, tracking and catching fish from under the surface of a lake or stream with their very professional methods.

Belted Kingfisher emerges from water with fish

What do kingfishers drink?

Belted kingfishers and common kingfishers drink only water, and also get a lot of their water needs from the fish they eat.

Do kingfishers use bird feeders?

Although kingfishers may never visit your backyard bird feeder, don’t completely give up hope of seeing them in your garden. Garden ponds have been reported to sometimes be raided by hungry kingfishers looking for an easy spot to feed fast schools of fish.