Kingfishers

The Kingfisher family includes about ninety species of small to medium-sized birds. They have large heads, long pointed bills, and compact bodies with short legs. Their feathers are usually bright, showing shiny blues, greens, and reddish-browns, although some species have duller brown and white colours. Most have two or more toes joined together, which helps them perch rather than walk. Kingfishers live all over the world except in polar areas. They are most varied in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia and Oceania. Even though they are called kingfishers, many live in woodlands and on land far from water. The family is split into three groups: river kingfishers, tree kingfishers, and water kingfishers. These groups show the different environments they live in. Their habitats range from rivers and coasts to thick rainforests and dry grasslands. All kingfishers eat meat. They catch their prey by flying out from a perch or diving into the water, depending on the species and where they live.