White-Throated Kingfisher Hunting a Prinia, Basai, Haryana

Abhishek Gulshan


Abhishek Gulshan

Chosen as 'Picture of the Week'

The diet of White-throated Kingfishers is the most diverse amongst Indian kingfishers, and includes beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, ants, crustaceans, fish, frogs, lizards and small perching birds like prinia and white-eye.

I was sitting on the ground looking at the reeds in front for warblers and prinias that were everywhere, when all of a sudden, a White-Throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) swooped down just inches away from me and caught hold of a Plain Prinia from the Hyacinth growing there. My heart skipped a beat as I saw the kingfisher take away the loudly protesting prinia, and, to my surprise, it sat just about 8-10 feet away from me. Maybe it was losing grip and decided to sit and grab its prey properly. The prinia struggled for its life as the kingfisher held it by one of it’s legs. It freed itself eventually, leaving the kingfisher lunch-less.

The diet of White-throated Kingfishers is the most diverse amongst Indian kingfishers, and includes beetles, grasshoppers,crickets, ants, crustaceans, fish, frogs, lizards and small perching birds like prinia and white-eye.

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About the author

Abhishek Gulshan

Abhishek is a New Delhi-based wildlife enthusiast with an emphasis on observation, documentation & conservation.



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