What they like

Steep, bare banks along clean, calm water. Think ditch, stream, pond edge, park ponds. With overhanging branches to fish from. Help it: leave one stretch of bank natural and untidy. No revetment, preferably a sloping, eroding edge. Lay a branch diagonally over the water as a lookout perch. Keep the water level as stable as possible during dry periods.

Ecological importance

The kingfisher is a litmus test. If it's there, other things are often right: clear water, plenty of small fish, aquatic insects and quiet. It hunts sticklebacks and other small fish, sometimes aquatic insects too. Sparrowhawks and cats sometimes catch it; cover with shrubs along the bank helps.

When in the Netherlands

All year round; severe frost can hit it hard.

Status

Breeding bird and resident. Numbers fluctuate strongly with winter cold and water quality. In good years locally surprisingly numerous.