The kingfisher is a bird many people know, but few have had the chance to see. In various wetland habitats—from streams and lake shores to biological pools—this multicolored bird can be spotted by those who know one of its most revealing habits: its distinctive call.

The kingfisher has a habit of calling out while in flight. Anyone who recognizes this typical sound simply needs to look up above the water’s surface to find it.

When it sits on a branch to watch the water, the kingfisher isn’t being vain. In reality, it’s looking for fish swimming near the surface, its primary prey. When it spots one, it dives into the water beak-first to try and catch it. Underwater, it prefers the speed of a bullet-like dive to capture its prey.

In biological pools, where there are no fish to hunt, the kingfisher feeds on tadpoles and small frogs. Even so, it’s a regular and always welcome visitor during the summer.

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