What is "kingfisher"

Kingfisher \King"fish`er\ (k[i^]ng"f[i^]sh`[~e]r), n. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of birds constituting the family Alcedinid[ae]. Most of them feed upon fishes which they capture by diving and seizing them with the beak; others feed only upon reptiles, insects, etc. About one hundred and fifty species are known. They are found in nearly all parts of the world, but are particularly abundant in the East Indies.

Note: The belted king-fisher of the United States ( Ceryle alcyon) feeds upon fishes. It is slate-blue above, with a white belly and breast, and a broad white ring around the neck. A dark band crosses the breast. The common European species ( Alcedo ispida), which is much smaller and brighter colored, is also a fisher. See Alcedo. The wood kingfishers ( Halcyones), which inhabit forests, especially in Africa, feed largely upon insects, but also eat reptiles, snails, and small Crustacea, as well as fishes. The giant kingfisher of Australia feeds largely upon lizards and insects. See Laughing jackass, under Laughing.

mid-15c., originally king's fisher, for obscure reasons; see king + fisher.

n. Any of various birds of the suborder ''(taxlink Alcedines suborder noshow=1)'' (or the family Alcedinidae sensu lato), having a large head, short tail and brilliant colouration; they feed mostly on fish.

n. nonpasserine large-headed bird with a short tail and long sharp bill; usually crested and bright-colored; feed mostly on fish

Kingfishers are a group of small to medium-sized, brightly colored birds in the order Coraciiformes. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, with most species found outside of the Americas. The group is treated either as a single family, the Alcedinidae, or as a suborder Alcedines containing three families, Alcedinidae ( river kingfishers), Halcyonidae ( tree kingfishers), and Cerylidae ( water kingfishers). Roughly 90 species of kingfishers are described. All have large heads, long, sharp, pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails. Most species have bright plumage with few differences between the sexes. Most species are tropical in distribution, and a slight majority are found only in forests. They consume a wide range of prey, as well as fish, usually caught by swooping down from a perch. While kingfishers are usually thought to live near rivers and eat fish, most species live away from water and eat small invertebrates. Like other members of their order, they nest in cavities, usually tunnels dug into the natural or artificial banks in the ground. A quarter of all kingfishers nest in disused termite nests. A few species, principally insular forms, are threatened with extinction. In Britain, the word "kingfisher" normally refers to the common kingfisher.

Kingfisher can refer to:

• Kingfisher, a bird in the family Alcedinidae
• Kingfisher (beer), an Indian beer
• Kingfisher plc, a British retail group
• Kingfisher International Pty Ltd an Australian fiber optic test equipment manufacturer
• The Kingfishers, a poem by Charles Olson

Kingfisher is an Indian beer brewed by United Breweries Group, Bangalore. The brand was launched in 1978. With a market share of over 36% in India, it is also available in 52 other countries. The Heineken Group holds 42.4% equity shares in United Breweries Ltd.

Kingfisher was ranked 74th among India's most trusted brands according to the Brand Trust Report 2012, a study conducted by Trust Research Advisory. In the Brand Trust Report 2013, Kingfisher was ranked 102nd among India's most trusted brands and subsequently, according to the Brand Trust Report 2014, Kingfisher was ranked 198th among India's most trusted brands.

During the years 2009 through 2015, United Spirits (USL) / Diageo exited all non-core investments in United Breweries and sold 850,000 INR shares to Heineken, which will now give it leverage to managing affairs of India's largest beer producer. USL sold 3.21% shares for Rs 872 crore in a block trade. The shares were sold at Rs 1,030 apiece, a slight premium to Tuesday's closing price of Rs 1,014.10. As of July 2015, Heineken's stake in United Breweries (UB) has increased from 39% to 42.1%. This deal will give Heineken an upper hand over Vijay Mallya in running the company.

Kingfisher (1867–1890) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1870 Belmont Stakes.

Kingfisher was bred by Robert A. Alexander at his Woodburn Stud in Woodford County, Kentucky, Kingfisher was out of the imported mare Eltham Lass, a daughter of Kingston. Kingfisher's sire was Lexington. He was a bay stallion.

In 1868 Kingfisher was auctioned at the 1868 Woodburn Stud yearling sale. He was purchased for $490 by Woodburn's former manager, Daniel Swigert who entrusted his race conditioning to trainer Rollie Colston. In 1870, the three-year-old Kingfisher won the Belmont Stakes at New York's Jerome Park Racetrack, in which he was ridden by Edward D. Brown. Besides the Belmont, Kingfisher won the 1870 Travers Stakes, Champion Stakes, and Annual Stakes. Daniel Swigert sold the horse to August Belmont, for $15,000.

Kingfisher raced for August Belmont in 1871 but was injured in the Saratoga Cup and did not return to racing until the following year when he met with little success.

Kingfisher started a total of 13 races, winning 7 of them, with total race earnings of $26,750.

Retired to stud duty, he sired 7 stakes winners: Belinda out of Bellona, Lady Rosebery out of Lady Blessington, Duchess also out of Lady Blessington, King Crab out of Carita, King Cadmus also out of Carita, Oriole out of My Maryland, and Prince Royal out of imported Princess. Belinda, an 1885 chesnut mare, won the 1887 Colleen Stakes. Lady Rosebery, an 1878 chestnut mare, won the 1880 Champagne Stakes. Duchess, an 1881 bay mare, won the 1883 Sapling Stakes, the 1884 Ladies' Handicap, Monmouth Oaks, and Mermaid Stakes. King Crab, an 1885 bay stallion, won the 1888 Oceanview Handicap. King Cadmus, an 1889 bay stallion, won the 1891 Sapphire Stakes. Oriole, an 1874 chestnut mare, won the 1878 Maturity Stakes. Prince Royal, an 1885 chestnut staillion, won the 1888 Jerome Handicap, Stevens Stakes and Stockton Stakes.

He was the maternal grandsire of the following:

• Fides, the 1889 American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly.
• Clifford, the 1893 American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse and 1894 American Champion Older Male Horse
• George W. Jenkins, winner of the 1902 American Grand National

Kingfisher died on June 30, 1890 in Kentucky.