Kingfisher

Alcedo atthis

As small as a sparrow, completely unmistakable

Status: Safe
Slow-moving rivers and clear waters of Eurasia, North Africa, and western Oceania

Numbers

Weight: 1,3 oz0.9 to 1.6 ounces
Length: 8,3 in6.5 to 10 inches
Lifespan: 7 yearsrarely exceeds 7 years in the wild; absolute record is 21 years
Maximum lifespan: 21 yearsabsolute record; rarely exceeds 7 years in the wild
Longest migration: 1900 mitraveled by Siberian populations to reach wintering sites
Nest CO2 tolerance: 6 %during brooding, compared to 0.03% in normal air

that during a dive a nictitating membrane protects its eyes, allowing it to see underwater and target its prey.
that after catching larger prey, it repeatedly bangs it against a branch to stun it, especially if it has claws or spines.
that indigestible parts of prey, such as bones and scales, are regurgitated as small pellets called castings.
that its nest is a tunnel dug into a riverbank, over three feet long, ending in a small egg chamber.
that while brooding eggs, carbon dioxide inside the nest can reach six percent, compared to zero point zero three percent in air.
that pairs form as early as autumn, but the two partners stay in separate territories until the following spring.
that each pair stays together for only one breeding season, and both birds seek a new partner the following year.
that it usually raises two broods a year, but in milder seasons it can raise a third one in autumn.
that it has few major natural predators, and most deaths are caused by extreme cold, hunger, or sudden floods.
that fewer than one in four young birds survive their first weeks after leaving their parents, because hunting takes practice.

The first one is the question printed in your book: here is the answer. The other four are extra.

Question 1 of 5★ this one is in your book

Why does the kingfisher need clear water?

Question 2 of 5

What protects the kingfisher's eyes during a dive?

Question 3 of 5

Where does the kingfisher lay its eggs?

Question 4 of 5

How long can a kingfisher live in the wild, even though it rarely happens?

Question 5 of 5

How many broods does it usually raise each year?

Experiment 1

Measure ten inches on a ruler to see the maximum wingspan of this bird. Compare that length with the span of your two hands placed side by side.

Experiment 2

Fill a glass with water and stir in a spoonful of dirt. Once it gets cloudy, try spotting a small coin at the bottom, just like hunting.

Experiment 3

Dig a three-foot tunnel into a pile of wet sand, ending in a tiny room. That is just like the nest this bird digs into riverbanks.