Small Blue Kingfisher [Alcedo atthis]

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Flora & Fauna

The Small Blue Kingfisher is also known as the Common Kingfisher. It measures around 16 cm with a wingspan of 25 cm. Ali and Ripley write that the bird is “usually met singly or in pairs perched on some favourite stake or bund on the edge of water.” The hunting habits are described thus: “Suddenly nose-dives with a splash and disappears under, presently to emerge with a small fish held crosswise in the bill. Flies off with the quarry at top speed to another perch some distance away where the struggling victim is battered into submission and swallowed head foremost.”

Collection:

Nature Collection

Album Name:

Sathasivam collection - Birds

Photograph ID:

001/0387/0004

Album ID:

0387

Photographers:

Kumaran and Ramila Sathasivam are keen naturalists and photographers. Their photographs have appeared in a number of publications, including Blackbuck, the journal of the Madras Naturalists' Society. Kumaran Sathasivam is a 1980s' IIT Madras alumnus. His book A Forest in the City is about his natural history experiences during his student days.