It occurs in southern and central Europe, northern Africa, and southern Asia in a belt from the Deccan to the Malay Archipelago, east to Sakhalin and Japan. It cannot be found in Iceland, northern Scotland, northern Scandinavia, and Siberia, as well as in high mountainous regions and deserts.
Common kingfisher prefers the vicinity of clear, inland waters – rivers, streams, lake shores, and ponds that have steep banks and hanging roots and branches. It lives near moderately fast-flowing or still waters with small populations of fish.
