Kingfishers may not be regular backyard birds, but they are some of the most fascinating and brightly colored birds out there. Kingfishers are very recognizable with their large heads, long pointed bills and stocky bodies, but they’re most famous for their expert ability to hunt and fish.
The prowess of kingfishers was recently captured in a PBS nature documentary exploring the River Shannon in Ireland—with some breathtaking footage of kingfishers diving head first into the water to catch fish.
Here’s a quote from the video:
“The greatest angler on the river has got to be the kingfisher. They’re just master fisherman and they’ve got to be because they can pretty much eat their own body weight in food every day.”
The video is almost hypnotic and while I wish there was a little more footage of the kingfishers underwater, it’s clear just how quick and precise these birds can hunt.
