# Flying Fishermen II (DD-534)

> Kingfishers are a worldwide family of brightly colored birds with sharp bills and keen eyesight. Many hunt by perching quietly over water, then diving headfirst to catch small fish or aquatic insects. A transparent third eyelid protects the eye underwater, and they can compensate for refraction to strike accurately, the Reel says. The footage, credited to harrycollinsphotography, shows a kingfisher diving.

- Department: Nature
- First published: 2025-04-04
- Last updated: 2025-04-04
- Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/flying-fishermen-ii/
- Author: Marcus Easterling (DetailEnjoyer), The Detail Department

## Quick facts

- **DD-534-F01**: Worldwide. _(Write-up · Exhibit A (Family))_
- **DD-534-F02**: Perch and dive. _(Write-up · Exhibit B (Hunting))_

## Write-up

Kingfishers dive headfirst to snatch fish. Their eyes adjust for refraction at the water's surface.

1. **Family**: Worldwide.
2. **Hunting**: Perch and dive.
3. **Prey**: Small fish.
4. **Eyelid**: Transparent third lid.
5. **Refraction**: Compensated, per the Reel.

## Related case files

- [Flying Fishermen (DD-272)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/flying-fishermen/): I linked the first in this series
- [Flying Fishermen III (DD-629)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/flying-fishermen-iii/): I linked the third part

## Reel vs. record

- **Note**: None needed.

## Video: Flying Fishermen II: Kingfishers Dive Headfirst to Snatch Fish

- Duration: 23.2 s · Published: 2025-04-04
- File: https://detailenjoyer.com/assets/videos/DIBrnBWRdGQ.mp4

### Transcript

Did you know? Kingfishers are a diverse family of brightly colored birds known for their sharp beaks, excellent vision, and impressive fishing skills. Found worldwide near rivers, lakes, and coastlines, they hunt by perching quietly before diving headfirst into water to catch small fish or aquatic insects. Their eyes have special adaptations, including a transparent third eyelid and the ability to compensate for refraction, allowing accurate targeting underwater. NOW YOU KNOW!

## Questions & answers

**Q: How do they hunt?**  
A: Headfirst. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Family) · Wikipedia: Kingfisher)_

**Q: Main prey?**  
A: Water. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Hunting) · Wikipedia: Kingfisher)_

**Q: Eye protection?**  
A: Transparent. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Prey) · Wikipedia: Kingfisher)_

**Q: Adjust for?**  
A: Bending light. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Eyelid) · Wikipedia: Kingfisher)_

**Q: Where found?**  
A: Diverse. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Refraction) · Wikipedia: Kingfisher)_

## Sources

- [Wikipedia: Kingfisher](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingfisher)
- [Wikipedia: Common kingfisher](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_kingfisher)

## Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Flying Fishermen II." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-534, last updated Apr 4, 2025. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/flying-fishermen-ii/