The Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), known in Japanese as “Hisui” (翡翠), is a small bird about 17 cm in length that inhabits rivers, ponds, and waterways across Japan.
Its dazzling sapphire-blue plumage is not created by pigments, but by microscopic structures within the feathers that selectively scatter and reflect light—an optical phenomenon known as “structural coloration.” Depending on the angle and intensity of the light, the bird’s blue deepens to a vivid indigo or gleams brightly like the jade stone, constantly shifting in expression.
True to its English name, the Kingfisher is a masterful hunter, plunging swiftly into the water to seize small fish with precision. Despite its jewel-like appearance, it often lives surprisingly close to us, and with patience and a keen eye one may encounter it even in an urban park.
In Japan, its name has long been associated with jade, a symbol of beauty and refinement. The Kingfisher has often appeared in haiku and classical verse, stirring human imagination for centuries. Today, the flash of its luminous form across a stream continues to embody a timeless symbol of poetic nature, captivating all who behold it.