Editing Common kingfisher (section)

==Habitat and distribution==
The common kingfisher is widely distributed over Europe, Asia, and North Africa, mainly south of 60°N. It is a common breeding species over much of its vast Eurasian range, but in North Africa it is mainly a winter visitor, although it is a scarce breeding resident in coastal [[Morocco]] and [[Tunisia]]. In temperate regions, this kingfisher inhabits clear, slow-flowing streams and rivers, and lakes with well-vegetated banks. It frequents scrubs and bushes with overhanging branches close to shallow open water in which it hunts. In winter it is more coastal, often feeding in estuaries or harbours and along rocky seashores. Tropical populations are found by slow-flowing rivers, in [[mangrove]] creeks and in swamps.<ref name=Fry/>

Common kingfishers are important members of ecosystems and good indicators of freshwater community health. The highest densities of breeding birds are found in habitats with clear water, which permits optimal prey visibility, and trees or shrubs on the banks. These habitats have also the highest quality of water, so the presence of this bird confirms the standard of the water.<ref name= Peris >{{cite journal| last= Peris | first= S. J. |author2=Rodriguez, R. | year=1996 | title= Some factors related to distribution by breeding Kingfisher (''Alcedo atthis'' L.) | journal= Ekologia Polska | volume=54 | issue= 1–2 | pages=31–38 }}</ref> Measures to improve water flow can disrupt this habitat, and in particular, the replacement of natural banks by artificial confinement greatly reduces the populations of fish, amphibians and aquatic reptiles, and waterside birds are lost.<ref name=china >{{cite journal| last1= Lin | first1= Wen-Loung | last2= Tsai |first2=Hsien-Hsiu |last3=Wu |first3=Hsuan-Ju | year= 2007 | title= Effect of ditch living thing by process of original structure replacement by RC irrigation ditch | journal= Journal of Chinese Soil and Water Conservation | volume= 38 | issue= 1| pages=31–42 | url = http://min-shiang.com/2007_RC.pdf |language=zh}}</ref> It can tolerate a certain degree of urbanisation, provided the water remains clean.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

This species is resident in areas where the climate is mild year-round, but must [[bird migration|migrate]] after breeding from regions with prolonged freezing conditions in winter. Most birds winter within the southern parts of the breeding range, but smaller numbers cross the [[Mediterranean]] into Africa or travel over the mountains of [[Malaysia]] into Southeast Asia. Kingfishers migrate mainly at night, and some Siberian breeders must travel at least {{convert|3000|km|abbr=on}} between the breeding sites and the wintering areas.<ref name=Fry/>