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rozinante · Tuesday 26th June 2007, 14:35

After the recent rain I had expected that my local kingfishers would have been flooded out for the second time this year. However I was lucky enough to get a good 5min view of one perched only 5 meters away on the far bank at the weekend. On noticing its dark bill I am now wondering if they might have fledged before the water rose.

Can anyone please confirm if a dark billed kingfisher would necessarily have fledged this year or do they sometimes retain a dark bill into their second year?

Apart from the dark bill it didn't look particurlaly tatty like many fledglings but I would expect that their lifestyle would demand neat feathers more than that of many other species.

DGRW · Tuesday 26th June 2007, 14:43

It wasn't simply a Male then?

Male Kingfishers have dark Bills, females have red bills.

Just a thought.

KnockerNorton · Tuesday 26th June 2007, 15:29

erm, females have a reddish base to the lower mandible, the bill is still essentially dark. Juvs have dark feet and a white tip to the bill.

**IanF** · Tuesday 26th June 2007, 16:21

We have plenty of juveinle Kingfishers around already - they fledged over two weeks ago now. Black, thick and shorter bill than adults which have longer sleeker bills.

Also the youngsters are a blue blue whereas the adults a more greeny blue.

In the photo with two the one on the right is an adult female and on the left a juvenile.

rozinante · Tuesday 26th June 2007, 17:39

Thanks for all the hints.

I think the white tip to the bill clinches it for me. I had forgoton about that. I didn't notice one and I think I would have. It was more likely to have been an adult female.

I was slightly looking down on it and would not have seen any underside colouring at the base of the bill. I couldn't see the feet either. Unfortunatly it is most likely that they have been washed out again.

timwootton · Tuesday 26th June 2007, 23:45

Hi Rozinante,
Adult female is actually the least likely. All dark bill means male or juv. (juv with varying whiteness to tip). Interesting to know why you now think it isn't a youngster (your first suggestion) - it's perfectly possible.

DGRW · Wednesday 27th June 2007, 06:17

My apologies Poecile -

I was merely simplifying it and pointing out a possibility.

Tuesday 26th June 2007, 14:35	#1
rozinante Anarchism is order Join Date: May 2006 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 1,110	Kingfisher with dark bill = fledgling? After the recent rain I had expected that my local kingfishers would have been flooded out for the second time this year. However I was lucky enough to get a good 5min view of one perched only 5 meters away on the far bank at the weekend. On noticing its dark bill I am now wondering if they might have fledged before the water rose. Can anyone please confirm if a dark billed kingfisher would necessarily have fledged this year or do they sometimes retain a dark bill into their second year? Apart from the dark bill it didn't look particurlaly tatty like many fledglings but I would expect that their lifestyle would demand neat feathers more than that of many other species.

Tuesday 26th June 2007, 16:21	#4
IanF Moderator Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Billingham, NE England Posts: 55,451 My location	We have plenty of juveinle Kingfishers around already - they fledged over two weeks ago now. Black, thick and shorter bill than adults which have longer sleeker bills. Also the youngsters are a blue blue whereas the adults a more greeny blue. In the photo with two the one on the right is an adult female and on the left a juvenile. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Durham Bird Club -Teesmouth Bird Club---RSPB Saltholme---Durham Birding---Local patch - Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park
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Tuesday 26th June 2007, 14:43	#2
DGRW Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Derbyshire UK Posts: 182	It wasn't simply a Male then? Male Kingfishers have dark Bills, females have red bills. Just a thought.

Tuesday 26th June 2007, 15:29	#3
KnockerNorton Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: England Posts: 3,783	erm, females have a reddish base to the lower mandible, the bill is still essentially dark. Juvs have dark feet and a white tip to the bill.

Tuesday 26th June 2007, 17:39	#5
rozinante Anarchism is order Join Date: May 2006 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 1,110	Thanks for all the hints. I think the white tip to the bill clinches it for me. I had forgoton about that. I didn't notice one and I think I would have. It was more likely to have been an adult female. I was slightly looking down on it and would not have seen any underside colouring at the base of the bill. I couldn't see the feet either. Unfortunatly it is most likely that they have been washed out again.

Tuesday 26th June 2007, 23:45	#6
timwootton Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Orkney Posts: 8,610	Hi Rozinante, Adult female is actually the least likely. All dark bill means male or juv. (juv with varying whiteness to tip). Interesting to know why you now think it isn't a youngster (your first suggestion) - it's perfectly possible.

Wednesday 27th June 2007, 06:17	#7
DGRW Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Derbyshire UK Posts: 182	My apologies Poecile - I was merely simplifying it and pointing out a possibility.

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