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Common kingfisher

Bayfront Plaza, outside Bayfront MRT

The Common Kingfisher is one of the eight different kingfisher species that can be found in Singapore. It breeds in temperate zones of Eurasia and North Africa, with some populations travelling south to places such as Singapore during winter months. In their breeding range, this species inhabits areas with still or gently flowing water and with sandy banks for perching or nesting.

Contrary to its name, it is an uncommon sight in Singapore, usually spotted during migratory season from September to March. Recognised by its orange underparts and turquoise to royal blue wings, with lighter blue spotting on its head and wing edges, it is a relatively small kingfisher (16 –18cm). Males and females can be differentiated by their beaks, with males having fully black bill while the female’s is black and orange.

As its name implies, their diet consists of fishes, though they also feed on aquatic invertebrates. They usually sit motionless on a perch (e.g. a branch overhanging a waterbody) until the prey is within reach. It then bobs its head up and down, and flick its tail before plunging obliquely into the water from the vantage point, catching the prey with high precision. Rarely, they hover over the surface of the water with the body almost at right angles to the surface before diving perpendicularly into the water. Large fish are beaten repeatedly on the branch before being swallowed head first.

In Singapore, they are found around water bodies, including canals, ponds, reservoir edges and mangroves. Gardens by the Bay is one of the regular sites to catch a glimpse of this beautiful bird in action, with Kingfisher Wetlands and the pond in front of the exit from Bayfront MRT as the usual haunts. To spot it, look out for the small, bright blue bird flying swiftly over the water surface or listen for its call which is a high pitched ‘tseep’.