Common Kingfisher
Alcedo atthis
Kingfishers (Alcedinidae) · Coraciiformes (Coraciiformes)
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Often mixed up with
In quizzes, players most often confuse Common Kingfisher with these birds— either this species was picked by mistake, or the other way around.
| Species | Mix-ups |
|---|---|
| Common Hoopoe Upupa epops | 3 |
| Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus | 2 |
| Blyth's Kingfisher Alcedo hercules | 2 |
| Mallard Anas platyrhynchos | 1 |
| Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax | 1 |
Family
Kingfishers are a family, the Alcedinidae, of small to medium-sized, brightly coloured birds in the order Coraciiformes. They have a cosmopolitan distribution: most species live in the tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Oceania, but they can also be found in Europe and the Americas. They can be found in deep forests near calm ponds and small rivers.
Order
The Coraciiformes are a group of usually colourful birds including the kingfishers, the bee-eaters, the rollers, the motmots, and the todies. They generally have syndactyly, with three forward-pointing toes (and toes 3 & 4 fused at their base), though in many kingfishers one of these is missing. In the past, Coraciiformes encompassed all anisodactyl (including syndactyl) members of the Cavitaves.