kingfisher

American  

[king-fish-er] / ˈkɪŋˌfɪʃ ər /

noun

1. any of numerous fish- or insect-eating birds of the family Alcedinidae that have a large head and a long, stout bill and are usually crested and brilliantly colored.

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kingfisher British  

/ ˈkɪŋˌfɪʃə /

noun

1. any coraciiform bird of the family Alcedinidae, esp the Eurasian Alcedo atthis, which has a greenish-blue and orange plumage. Kingfishers have a large head, short tail, and long sharp bill and tend to live near open water and feed on fish

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Etymology

Origin of kingfisher

1400–50; king + fisher; replacing king's fisher, late Middle English kinges fisher

Example Sentences

Christopher Banks, a wildlife campaigner in Bolton, claimed the digging had affected areas used by kingfishers.

From BBC

Other birds in the area include pygmy owls, belted kingfishers and wild turkey.

From Los Angeles Times

Along the River Otter Mr Burgess tells me the beavers have created wetlands that now host species such as great white egrets and kingfishers.

From BBC

Volunteers who monitor the site have seen kingfishers for the first time.

From BBC

Then he gave me the sack of gunpowder that he had acquired in exchange for the kingfisher feathers and walked into the spicers’ district with his arms joyously spread.

From Literature