Kingfisher

Birds of the family Alcedinidae.

There are about 85 species. All having large heads, long pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails. They are found throughout the world.

Kingfishers live in both woodland and water. The kookaburra?, at 45 cm the world's largest kingfisher, is an woodland bird. While the English Alcedo atthis is always found near fresh water. Alcedo atthis is 16 - 17cm long with blue and orange plumage and red legs and feet. The belted kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon), a water species, is the only one commonly found in the United States. It is 28 - 36 cm long with deep blue, or bluish-gray plumage with white markings and a broad collar of white around the neck.

Kingfishers that live near water hunt small fish by diving, they also eat crayfishes, frogs, and insects.