kingfishers lifespan

 

Common kingfishers (Alcedo atthis) have a short average lifespan of just 2 years due to high mortality in their first year. While many perish early, those that survive can live for 7 to 15 years in the wild. Their survival is often limited by cold winters and available hunting territory. 

This video shows the habitat and behavior of the Kingfisher:

Kingfisher Facts: Not JUST a FISHING Bird ‍ Animal Fact Files

Key Lifespan and Survival Data:

• Average Lifespan: Commonly 2 years, often cited as 7 years in safer, established populations.

• Maximum Lifespan: Some individuals have been recorded living up to 15–21 years.

• First-Year Survival: Only about 50% of young survive their first winter.

• Other Species: Belted Kingfishers generally live 6–10 years, and the Guam Kingfisher can live 15–20 years in care. 

Factors Affecting Lifespan:

• Severe Winters: Freezing water prevents hunting, leading to starvation.

• Predators: Cats, foxes, and mink threaten adults, while snakes and other predators can threaten young.

• Habitat Loss: Pollution and urbanization reduce food supply and nesting spots. 

For in-depth details on the life cycle and habitat, you can explore the information on the Wildlife Trusts website. 

Are you asking about a specific type of kingfisher (like the Common or Belted), or are you interested in how they survive, such as their:

• Diet

• Nesting habits

• Typical threats?

Species information

Category
Statistics
Conservation status
Habitats
About

• Woodpeckers, cuckoo, kingfisher and waxwing

 

Length: 15-17cm

Wingspan: 25cm

Weight: 40g

Average lifespan: 2 years

Classified in the UK as Green under the Birds of Conservation Concern 5: the Red

List for Birds (2021). Protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act,

1981.

 

Grassland

Heathland and moorland

Freshwater

Farmland

Coastal

Wetlands

Woodland

Towns and gardens

The kingfisher is a colourful bird of rivers and streams. It can be spotted sitting quietly on low-hanging branches over the water, suddenly diving in to catch a small fish. Kingfishers live in burrow-like nests near lakes and other waterways, choosing a perfect spot for fishing!

How to identify

The striking mix of its bright-blue back and metallic copper breast make the kingfisher

unmistakable. Males have an entirely black bill, females have an orangey-red patch

at the base.

Distribution

Widespread, but absent from northern Scotland.

Did you know?

There are about 90 species of kingfisher around the world, most of which have brightly coloured plumage. The Australian kingfisher - the familiar, laughing kookaburra - is the heaviest of all the kingfisher species.

The average lifespan of a kingfisher is roughly 2 to 7 years in the wild, though this varies significantly by species and environmental conditions. While many individuals die within their first year, those that reach adulthood can live much longer, with some species reaching 15 years or more. 

Lifespan by Species

Different kingfisher species have varying life expectancies: 

Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis): Typically lives about 2 years on average, but can reach 7–15 years. The oldest recorded individual was 21 years old.

Belted Kingfisher: Generally lives 6 to 10 years in the wild, with a maximum recorded age of

15 years.

Guam Kingfisher: In human care (as they are extinct in the wild), they can live between 15 and 20 years.

Stork-billed Kingfisher: Has a shorter average lifespan of about 2 years, with a maximum recorded age of around 4.5 years.

White-throated Kingfisher: Has a relatively short recorded lifespan of about 5 years. 

Survival Challenges

The first year is the most perilous for kingfishers. Factors impacting their survival include: 

• High Juvenile Mortality: Only about 50% of young survive to adulthood. Many fledglings drown during their first attempts to dive for fish or starve if they fail to learn hunting skills before being driven out of parental territory.

• Weather Extremes: Severe winters are a major threat, as frozen water prevents them from fishing, leading to starvation.

• Predation: They are hunted by predators such as foxes, minks, cats, and larger birds of prey like hawks and falcons.

• Human Impact: Habitat loss, water pollution, and collisions with vehicles or windows also significantly reduce their lifespan. 

Would you like to know more about the breeding habits or specific habitats of a particular kingfisher species?

Kingfisher

The 'King of Fishers' is usually glimpsed as a sudden flash of glistening blue. Even dedicated bird-spotters can fail to catch sight of a kingfisher until it takes flight.

They’re hard to spot flying, inspiring the words: 'only the righteous see the kingfisher'.

Kingfisher facts

Scientific name: Alcedo Atthis

Family: Alcedinidae

Diet: Fish, aquatic insects, tadpoles and shrimp

Predators: Cats, foxes and mink

Size: Length 16-17cm, wingspan 24-26cm

Weight: 35-50g

Lifespan: On average, kingfishers live to seven years, but they can live up to 15

A stealthy predator

Kingfishers travel at lightning-fast speeds. They catch several fish per day, raise up to three broods every season and fiercely defend their territory at all times.

There are over 80 species of kingfisher around the world, but only one is native to Britain – the common kingfisher. Our kingfisher lives in dense cover near slow-flowing fresh water like our canals and rivers.

Experts at fishing

Smaller than a starling, the kingfisher is a fearsome predator, readily tackling prey larger and heavier than itself.

It will perch patiently on the lookout for any tell-tale fish movements in the water below. When it spots a fish, the stealthy bird makes a split-second assessment of its depth and precise location to dive, bill-first, into the water. Eyes closed with transparent eyelids and beak half-open, the kingfisher seizes the slippery prey and carries it back to his perch.

Kingfishers and our canals

Our canals and rivers provide the perfect hunting ground for these striking birds. Providing vast nature corridors, our network allows kingfishers to roam up and down the country – and even make their homes in cities. You might even spot one in central London or Manchester.

Donate to help kingfishers

Support our work to protect wildlife and their habitat at a time when it needs us the most

How to identify a kingfisher

Kingfishers are brightly coloured, with a cobalt-blue back, tail and head, bright orange underparts and a white bib. Its legs are short and red or orange in colour. Males tend to be larger and have more vibrant feathers. Females have orange markings on the lower part of their long bill.

The design of a kingfisher's beak is aerodynamically efficient, allowing it to dive from its perch towards its prey. The beak is so clever that engineers in Japan have modelled bullet trains on them.

Kingfisher eats a fish

What do kingfishers eat?

As the name suggests, kingfishers are most famous for eating fish – usually minnows and sticklebacks. They'll also feast on aquatic insects, shrimp and tadpoles.

How do kingfishers breed?

Kingfishers can have up to three broods a year – building a new nest each time. They begin pairing with mates in February, with the first eggs laid in March and April. Incubation lasts around three weeks before hatching.

Chicks can eat up to 18 fish per day – meaning their parents might have to catch up to 100 fish in a day. They leave the nest at about 25 days old.

Where do kingfishers live?

Kingfishers make their homes by slow-flowing fresh water, such as canals, lakes and rivers in lowland areas. In the UK, southern regions are blessed with healthy populations. But they become scarce further north and are rarely sighted in Scotland.

They nest in burrows, which can measure up to 140cm in length and take many days to build.

Best places to see a kingfisher 

Discover the best places to catch a glimpse of their striking orange and blue along our network

Waterway banks 

These habitats are the perfect place for hungry kingfishers to nest and watch tempting meals swim by

Where to spot kingfishers?

Despite their bright plumage, it isn't easy to spot a kingfisher. After all, it's in their nature to move with maximum speed and minimum splash.

If you are extremely lucky and have a large pond, you may see the occasional kingfisher gliding through your garden. Otherwise, you'll need to find your nearest canal, river or lake. Kingfishers prefer areas where they can easily see activity below the water – so head to shallow, slow-flowing water.

Look at the surrounding low-hanging branches near the water's edge, where you might spot a kingfisher posed to strike.

What's the best time of day to spot kingfishers?

Kingfishers are early risers. So, if you want a glimpse of these elusive birds, it's best to visit a canal in the morning.

What's the best time of year to spot kingfishers?

While they're present on our waters all year round, you're most likely to see one during the summer months.

What sound do kingfishers make?

One of the best ways to know a kingfisher is near is by listening for their calls. Kingfishers make a loud single or two-note whistle. Their high-pitched calls can travel some distance. Some refer to it as a 'PEEP' noise.

Audio: Simon Elliott / xeno-canto.org

Seven top tips to spot a kingfisher

We've put together some handy tips that might help you spot these creatures along our canals and rivers

Threats to kingfishers

Kingfishers in the UK aren't considered endangered, but they are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.