Bird ID Course: Freshwater

How to identify
The striking mix of its bright-blue back and metallic copper breast make the kingfisher unmistakable. Males have an entirely black bill, females have an orangey-red patch at the base.

Did you know?
There are about 90 species of kingfisher around the world, most of which have brightly coloured plumage. The Australian kingfisher - the familiar, laughing kookaburra - is the heaviest of all the kingfisher species.

How to identify
The coot can be distinguished from the similar-looking moorhen by its larger size, entirely black body (with no white patches), and bright white bill. Coots spend much of their time away from the bankside, diving for food.

Did you know?
The saying 'bald as a coot' actually refers to the white patch, or 'frontal shield', just above the bird's bill, rather than lack of feathers. Coots are also known locally as 'bald coots' and 'white-faced divers'.

How to identify
The grey wagtail has a very long, black-and-white tail, a yellow rump and a yellow belly. It is grey above with black wings. Males have a grey face with a black throat bib and a white 'moustache'. The similar yellow wagtail has a shorter tail and an olive-green back, and does not have a black bib.

Did you know?
Grey wagtails eat ants and midges that they find beside rivers, and snails and tadpoles they find in shallow water. They nest near the water in hollows and crevices lined with moss and twigs.