How to Attract Kingfishers

One of the most unique looking birds is the brightly coloured kingfisher, with its big head, long beak and striking plumage. There are more than 80 species of this bird worldwide. Attracting these vibrant birds can be difficult as they are notorious for being shy around humans so a few gentle techniques are needed to gain their trust.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Setting up a Hunting Ground

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1
Set up a pond or a body of water. The kingfisher is an avid hunter and will wait patiently on a perch before swooping on a fish it wants to eat. By setting up even a small pond or water container in your garden, you might be lucky enough to entice a few kingfishers to come hunting.
- Large tubs can be bought at garden centres if you are short of space or don't want to dig out a pond.^{[1]XResearch source}
- If buying a tub, fibreglass containers will last longer than plastic ones but will also cost a lot more.^{[2]XResearch source}
- Kingfishers have been recorded diving up to 1 metre (3.3 ft) to catch fish so make your pond or water feature deeper than that if you can.^{[3]XResearch source}
2
Make a perch above the water. Kingfishers like to perch and wait for their prey. You can set up a perch with just a thin branch. Just make sure it is stable enough for the birds to sit on and place it about two metres above the ground in a place where the birds can easily see the water. ^{[4]XResearch source}
- Washing lines, fencing and stacked rocks can also make for a good perch for these birds.^{[5]XResearch source}
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Kingfishers like to hunt in clearings where there's less vegetation to obstruct their views of the water. ^{[6]XTrustworthy SourceThe Cornell Lab of OrnithologyResearch lab of Cornell University dedicated to interpreting and conserving the Earth's biological diversity through research and education about birdsGo to source} The fewer shrubs and trees around, the more chance you have of attracting these birds to your garden.
4
Provide the birds with small fish and tadpoles to eat. You can buy small fish destined to be fed to carnivorous fish or birds at your local pet shop. It would be best to choose colourful fish that the kingfisher can see.^{[7]XResearch source}
- Kingfishers eat mainly small fish like minnows and sticklebacks. Their ideal fish would be about 23 millimetres (0.91 in) in length so keep that in mind when choosing your prey.^{[8]XResearch source}
- Kingfishers also occasionally eat crayfish, snails and frogs. The more biodiversity at your place, the more likely the kingfishers will come and hunt there.^{[9]XResearch source}
5
Look after your fish. Feed the fish daily and clean the tub or pond every week to keep the fish healthy. Make sure at least a quarter of the water surface is clear and visible to birds. ^{[10]XResearch source}
- Don't overcrowd your fish as this will prevent them getting enough oxygen to survive. Check with your pet shop on the best fish to water ratio for your set up.^{[11]XResearch source}
6
Set up a bird table. If you aren't keen on a water feature in your garden, you may have some luck with a flat tray style bird feeder instead. These bird tables can attract kingfishers if it is a harsh winter and the birds are hungry enough.^{[12]XResearch source}
- They will eat offal, meat or even bread if you provide it.
- Set the bird table up in the open so kingfishers and other birds can see it. ^{[13]XResearch source}

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Encouraging Nesting

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1
Set up a burrowing space. Kingfishers like to nest on riverbanks that are almost vertical and sparse of any plants. The birds take about a week to construct their houses.^{[14]XTrustworthy SourceThe Cornell Lab of OrnithologyResearch lab of Cornell University dedicated to interpreting and conserving the Earth's biological diversity through research and education about birdsGo to source} If you're clearing vegetation be sure to clear the roots too as these can interfere with the kingfishers' nesting patterns. ^{[15]XResearch source}
- A kingfisher's nest will extend 1–2 metres (3.3–6.6 ft) into a bank and slope upwards so that rain won't collect inside. It will finish with a 20–30 centimetres (7.9–11.8 in) chamber. Keep all that in mind if you are setting up an area for the birds to burrow in.^{[16]XTrustworthy SourceThe Cornell Lab of OrnithologyResearch lab of Cornell University dedicated to interpreting and conserving the Earth's biological diversity through research and education about birdsGo to source}
2
Buy a nest box. If you don't have a suitable area for a kingfisher to nest in or the idea of a barren, earthy pile in your garden is not appealing, there are artificial options that might still work to attract a kingfisher or two. Nest boxes can be bought from online retailers or some pet stores.^{[17]XResearch source} These nest boxes mimic the tunnel that the kingfisher would burrow in the wild.
- Be sure to place the next box at least 1 metre (3.3 ft) above the water level of your pond, otherwise the birds will shy away from it.^{[18]XResearch source}
Kingfishers will pair up and look to nest and breed in early spring and lay their eggs shortly after. You'll have more luck attracting the birds if you have a nesting area or nest box ready for them at that time.^{[19]XResearch source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Setting the Mood

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Keep your garden as quiet and peaceful as possible to attract kingfishers. These birds are naturally suspicious and wary of humans so you'll have to be very patient.^{[20]XResearch source}
2
Watch from a hide. If kingfishers start frequenting your garden and you want to get close to them without disturbance, consider building a hide to watch from. A hide can be a simple canvas pop-up blind to hide behind as you watch or photograph the birds.^{[21]XResearch source} You can also make a hide from large palm fronds placed against poles, as long as it looks natural and can hide you as you watch.
- It might take the kingfishers about a month to get used to a hide being in their space and they might be wary of it until it becomes a normal sight for them.^{[22]XResearch source}
3
Control your animals outside. Because kingfishers nest on the ground, they are extremely vulnerable to cats and dogs and will shy away from areas where these animals live.
- If you have a cat you can construct an outdoor run for it so it can enjoy the garden but still be kept away from local bird life.^{[23]XResearch source}

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Can you see them in the UK?
HumanBeing
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There are kingfishers in the UK, you might see the common kingfisher, also known as the Eurasian kingfisher and river kingfisher on river banks or near canals. You are unlikely to see any in your garden unless you live very close to a river or clean canal.
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