* Size: Slightly larger than a sparrow (ca. 18-19cm., with wings averaging 7.5 cm),

* Appearance: Adult is bright metallic blue in the upper parts, cobalt on the back, and showing greenish reflections   more...on the head and wings. The ear coverts and under parts are warm chestnut, the chin and sides of neck white.
The bill of the female is blackish and reddish orange at the base; the bill of the male is all black; the legs are bright red with a dark blue stripe. In the young the bill is black.

* Flight: The flight of the Kingfisher is rapid, the short rounded wings whirring until they appear a mere blur. It usually flies near the water, but during courtship the male chases the female through and over the trees with loud shrill whistles.
The Kingfisher sometimes hovers over the water, with body held almost vertical, the tail and head bent slightly forward and the bill inclined downward.

* Courtship: From February onwards the male has a trilling song, a modulated repetition of many whistles. He also signals with a whistle to the female when he is feeding her, this being his share of the nesting duties. This whistle is produced even when his bill is loaded with food, yet is clear and distinct. The female will reply and emerge from the nesting hole, and may fly to meet him, take the fish from him in the air, and return to the nest.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List or Red Data List), created in 1963, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is the world's main authority on the conservation status of species.
The IUCN Red List is set upon precise criteria to evaluate the extinction risk of thousands of species and subspecies. These criteria are relevant to all species and all regions of the world. The aim is to convey the urgency of conservation issues to the public and policy makers, as well as help the international community to try to reduce species extinction.

http://www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/redlist2007/index_redlist2007.htm  less

and others PLEASE NOTICE how tv broadcast used to fuck up
all the time multiple cartridge based chaos

This is an impressive single-take.... The Bard (of Ely) played me an acoustic folk version of his self-penned song, I immediately liked it, saw it as an R&B song, composed and arranged the backing,   more...and, together with Alan (the Harp) Mansfield, twisted the Bard's arm to stand up and sing to it. "Where do I come in?" - much nodding and pointing - and here it is. First time! There was a great choice of wonderful harmonica playing from Alan (a genius with it!). It was the first (and very nearly the last!) and definitely the best thing that Totem3 ever did. Photos by me, mostly, graphics by Michael Cartwright of Modern Arts.  less

I got tagged by Stromrider to a beer chug dare.