Editing Kingfisher (section)

== Relationship with humans ==
Kingfishers are generally shy birds, but in spite of this, they feature heavily in human culture, generally due to the large head supporting its powerful mouth, their bright plumage, or some species' interesting behavior.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Vuong|first1=Quan-Hoang|last2=Nguyen|first2=Minh-Hoang|date=2023|title=Kingfisher: contemplating the connection between nature and humans through science, art, literature, and lived experiences |url=https://www.publish.csiro.au/PC/PC23044|journal=Pacific Conservation Biology|volume=30 |doi=10.1071/PC23044}}</ref>

For the [[Dusun people|Dusun]] people of [[Borneo]], the [[Oriental dwarf kingfisher]] is considered a bad omen, and warriors who see one on the way to battle should return home. Another Bornean tribe considers the [[banded kingfisher]] an omen bird, albeit generally a good omen.<ref name="HBW" />

The [[sacred kingfisher]], along with other Pacific kingfishers, was venerated by the Polynesians, who believed it had control over the seas and waves.

Modern taxonomy also refers to the winds and sea in naming kingfishers after a classical Greek myth. The first pair of the mythical-bird Halcyon (kingfishers) were created from a marriage of [[Alcyone]] and [[Ceyx]]. As gods, they lived the sacrilege of referring to themselves as Zeus and Hera. They died for this, but the other gods, in an act of compassion, made them into birds, thus restoring them to their original seaside habitat. In addition, special "[[wikt:halcyon days|halcyon days]]" were granted. These are the seven days on either side of the winter solstice when storms shall never again occur for them. The Halcyon birds' "days" were for caring for the winter-hatched clutch (or brood), but the phrase "Halcyon days" also refers specifically to an idyllic time in the past, or in general to a peaceful time. In another version, a woman named [[Alcyone (daughter of Sciron)|Alcyone]] was cast into the waves by her father for her promiscuity and was turned into a kingfisher.

Various kinds of kingfishers and human cultural artifacts are [[Alcyone#Legacy|named after the couple]], in reference to this metamorphosis myth:
* The [[genus]] ''[[Ceyx (Kingfisher)|Ceyx]]'' (within the [[river kingfishers]] [[family (biology)|family]]) is named after him.
* The kingfisher subfamily Halcyoninae ([[tree kingfisher]]s) is named after his wife, as is the genus [[Halcyon (genus)|''Halcyon'']].
* The belted kingfisher's specific name (''Megaceryle alcyon'') also references her name.

Not all the kingfishers are named in this way. The etymology of kingfisher (''Alcedo atthis'') is obscure; the term comes from "king's fisher", but why that name was applied is not known.<ref>{{cite web|title = Online Etymology Dictionary|url = http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=king&searchmode=term|author = Douglas Harper|year = 2001|access-date = 2007-07-14|archive-date = 25 May 2017|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170525105914/http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=king&searchmode=term|url-status = live}}</ref>