kingfisher I | pen & ink

First artwork in the Timbavati 'Kingfisher' series.

This series of kingfisher illustrations captures the entire drama of their hunt — a sequence as precise as it is beautiful. Kingfishers begin by hovering above the water, beating their wings rapidly to hold a steady position while they lock onto the tiny fish below. With perfect timing, they tilt forward, fold their wings, and spear-dive with astonishing speed, slicing into the water in a clean, arrow-like motion. Once they secure their catch, the behaviour becomes surprisingly fierce. Kingfishers instinctively fly to a nearby branch and beat the fish against it — a swift, repetitive motion that stuns or kills the prey and ensures any sharp spines are flattened. Only then do they swallow it whole, headfirst, letting gravity and anatomy do the rest.