- "Talk less, Fisher Blue! Keep your kindly wishes
Fly off and preen yourself with the bones of fishes!" - —Tom Bombadil
The kingfisher was a common fish-eating bird in Middle-earth. They were bright blue with a broad beak and yellow breast.
Several Eldarin words for the bird are known: in Quenya, they were called halatir, from the roots skal and tir, meaning 'fishwatcher'. Noldorin had a similar word, heledirn.
History[]
Kingfishers lived on the waterside, feeding on insects and fish. A notable kingfisher existed, according to Hobbit folklore, in the Old Forest. It was said to harass Tom Bombadil, and when flying away it lost a feather. Tom took the feather and replaced the old swan feather in his hat. He bore this noticeable bright blue feather upon meeting Frodo Baggins and his companions in the Old Forest.
Gondor was also familiar with the Kingfisher; when Faramir saw what he thought was a black squirrel or kingfisher, he asked Anborn whether the were any black kingfishers in Mirkwood - a forest known for its black animals. Anborn saw the mysterious creature had four limbs, and quickly dismissed both ideas. It turned out to be Gollum hiding in the Forbidden Pool.[citation needed]