The Northern Kingfisher Blue Jewel in the Canopy

The small, intensely colored bird perched on a horizontal branch against a saturated green background is a male Northern Kingfisher…

The small, intensely colored bird perched on a horizontal branch against a saturated green background is a male Northern Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), a name sometimes applied to the Common Kingfisher in regions where it is found. This male displays a magnificent, shimmering sapphire-blue back and wings, with minute, iridescent spots. The breast is a rich, warm chestnut-orange, and a clean white patch is visible on the throat. His most defining characteristic is the long, sharp, black bill, a highly specialized tool for diving. The birds sleek, compact posture and large, dark eye, all set against the diffused jungle background, perfectly capture the brilliant, jewel-like quality of this master underwater hunter of streams and rivers.