"I've gone fishing thousands of times in my life, and I have never once felt unlucky or poorly paid for those hours on the water." – William Tapply
The word "common" refers to the widespread distribution of the kingfisher and its residential lifestyle. Whilst most other kingfishers move regionally according to the seasons, the common kingfisher only migrates where the rivers freeze over. The kingfisher with its striking appearance and colours seems to have a nearly universal ability to inspire awe and admiration and is the subject of a wealth of stories and myths.
It is believed that the kingfisher was once a drab grey bird which, along with the other fauna of the world, was brought onto Noah’s Ark before the great flood arrived. When Noah sent the kingfisher to look for land, it was so overjoyed to be in the sky that it flew up high into the blue expanse, turning its feathers blue. Then, delighted to have the sun on its belly, the kingfisher looped across the sky and the sunlight turned its belly a fiery orange color. The kingfisher was so filled with joy that it forgot to return to the Ark until long after Noah and the other animals had departed. Consumed with guilt, the kingfisher stares into the water of lakes and streams to this day, hoping to see the Ark floating along so that it may make amends to Noah.
The origin of the name "Kingfisher" is from the Arthurian legend of the "Fisher King", or the Wounded King, who is the last in a long line charged with keeping the Holy Grail. His kingdom suffers as he is wounded waist downwards. All he is able to do is fish in the river near his castle in Corbenic and wait for someone who might be able to heal him.
Common kingfisher
/Eurasian kingfisher
(Alcedo atthis)
Sony A77ii
Tamron 150-600
500mm, 1/500s, f/8, ISO320
December 2022
Chakki Morh, Solan, HP (India)
www.thekeyislooking.com