Main content

Kingfisher

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the kingfisher.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. Steve Backshall presents the kingfisher.

The Ancient Greeks knew the kingfisher as Halcyon and believed that the female built her nest on the waves, calming the seas while she brooded her eggs: hence the expression Halcyon days, which we use now for periods of tranquillity.

Kingfishers can bring in over 100 fish a day to their large broods and the resulting collection of bones and offal produces a stench that doesn't match the bird's attractive appearance.

Available now

2 minutes

Last on

Tue 7 Feb 2023 05:58

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

Image courtesy of RSPB (rspb-images.com)

Broadcasts

  • Tue 16 Jul 2013 05:58
  • Tue 29 Jul 2014 05:58
  • Wed 4 May 2016 05:58
  • Tue 11 Apr 2017 05:58
  • Thu 28 Mar 2019 05:58
  • Sun 13 Sep 2020 08:58
  • Tue 7 Feb 2023 05:58

Podcast: Planet Puffin

Podcast: Planet Puffin

Exploring all things puffin - the silly and the serious, the scientific and the cultural.

Try this new podcast

Five stories of birds and birdsong are told by the people inspired by them.

Podcast