LOOK
WHEN YOU
The Common Kingfisher
When you look at Common Kingfishers, you see what it means to be legendary.
When you look at this Common Kingfisher, you see what it means to be legendary. When cultures interact with the Common Kingfisher, themes of immortality, mythology, and gloriousness arise because of the biological and ecological features of the bird.
The Common Kingfisher, Acedo atthis, found in Eurasia, Common Kingfishers, found in Eurasia, are characterized most famously by their coruscating blue plumage and their graceful agility diving into bodies of water for food. The striking blue color of the feathers is caused by iridescence rather than pigment, and because of this, the color of the bird may change in different lighting and at different angles. During their dive the birds will sweep their wings back moments before breaking the water’s surface, creating a streamlined, fast spear-like attack virtually undetectable by the aquatic target.
In the Greek mythological story of Alcyone, this goddess of the daughter of the daughter of winds dove into the sea after her husband, and was brought back to life in the form of Kingfisher, immortalising the bird and relating it to mythical beings. In british literature, poet Gerard Manley Wrote a poem titled “As Kingfishers Catch Fire,” in which the iridescence of the feathers is attributed to an action not biologically possible, giving the Kingfisher the presence of being more than an animal; of being closer to a legendary, mythical creature. Chinese texts have described Kingfisher feathers as being on-par with the status of ivory, carnelian, pearls, and gold because of their shiny gem-like appearance similar to the gloriousness of these precious items.
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