The Eurasian kingfisher is stocky and streamlined, and dives deep into water to catch fish. It usually hunts from a perch, flying rapidly down into the water when it spots a potential victim. Once underwater, it grasps the fish in its powerful beak, then flies back to its perch with its prey, which it swallows head first; this technique prevents the fish's spines or fin-rays sticking in the kingfisher's throat.