Kingfisher

Kingfishers or Alcedinidae are a family of small to medium-sized, brightly colored birds in the order of Coraciiformes. They have a wide range, with the majority of the species being found in the tropics of Africa, Asia, and Oceania, as well as in Europe. They can be located close to tranquil ponds and little rivers in dense forests. The family is made up of three subfamilies, 19 genera, and 114 species. Large heads, long, pointed bills, small legs, and stubby tails are characteristics shared by all kingfishers. The majority of species have colorful plumage with barely discernible differences between the sexes.

The majority of species are found only in forests, and the majority of those are tropical in range. They eat a variety of food, which they often catch by swooping down from a perch. Many species of kingfishers live far from water and feed on small invertebrates, despite the common misconception that they dwell near rivers and eat fish. They nest in cavities, typically tunnels dug into the natural or man-made banks in the earth, like other members of their order. Some kingfishers build their nests inside termite mounds. A small number of species, mostly insular types, face extinction.