Kingfisher

The Common Kingfisher is arguably one of the most beautiful water birds you’ll have the pleasure of spotting in Galway. Its bright colours and distinctive ‘chee-kee’ chirp make it hard to miss. Kingfishers have an orange-reddish belly, an electric-blue back and rump, and a narrow, black bill. They feed on many different small insects and aquatic creatures but their long, pointed bills are ideal for snatching small fish from the canals. They are capable of diving up to 25cm underwater to capture their prey. Fun fact: unlike other birds, Kingfishers don’t build nests. Instead, they burrow into embankments, creating little tunnels in which they then shelter and nest.