Do you know what New Zealand bird name sounds like a fish name? It’s the Kingfisher. The Kingfisher is one of the best known birds in New Zealand.
APPEARANCE
A Kingfisher is 23 centimeters long and weighs 55 grams. It’s back is a blue-green colour and it’s stomach is a shimmery yellow. The Kingfisher has a pointy beak so it has more of a chance of catching fish because when the beak enters the water it wouldn’t make a splash and skewer the fish. If it had a blunter beak it would make a splash and probably scare the fish away.
DIET
Kingfishers that live near coastal waters eat small crabs and fish. Those who live near freshwater eat tadpoles, crayfish and small fish. When on land with no water around they would eat earthworms, cicadas, weta, stick insects, dragonflies, beetles, spiders, lizards, mice and small birds. Kingfishers have to eat 60% of their body weight each day to survive.
HABITAT
Kingfishers live in a lot of different places. They like to live near water such as lakes and rivers but can also be found in forests. Humans using heavy machinery to smooth the river banks and drain the land can destroy Kingfisher nests on the lowland rivers.
THREATS
Only half the Kingfisher babies survive more than one week. Most Kingfishers die due to the cold or lack of food in a very cold winter. The main predators are cats and rats. Kingfishers also die when they fly into windows or collisions with cars. When humans disturb the nesting birds this can be a serious problem as the shy birds might not enter and the chicks become too weak to call for the parents who then think they are not hungry, so the chicks stave to death.
In conclusion now you know what a Kingfisher is I hope you will point them out or maybe even care for one if it is hurt. I hope they will make kingfishers a pet soon. I want them to become a pet because they are cute and they remind me of my gran.
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