Megaceryle alcyon
belted kingfisher

Belted kingfishers are native only to the Nearctic region. They breed as far north as northern Canada and Alaska and winter as far south as Central American and the Caribbean islands. They are found throughout the year from southern Canada and coastal Alaska throughout much of the United States. (Fry, 1992)

Belted kingfishers occur in various aquatic habitats. They can inhabit lakes, mountain streams, coasts, mangrove forests, tidal creeks, swamps, rivers, garden ponds, and calm marine waters. They need clear, still water for fishing, and places to perch while looking for prey. Belted kingfishers prefer waters that are not overgrown with vegetation. They require unvegetated, earthen banks in order to make their nesting burrows. (Hamas, 1994; Fry, 1992)

Belted kingfishers are medium-sized, stocky birds. Their plumage is blue-gray, except for a white collar and belly. Both sexes have a gray chest band, and females have an additional rufous-colored (reddish brown) chest band. Unlike most birds, it is females of this species that are conspicously colored. Their length ranges from 28-35 cm, with a head and bill that are large compared to their bodies. Their heads also has a very noticable, ragged, double-pointed crest that reaches from the base of the bill to the back of the neck. Juveniles closely resemble adult females in coloration.

Belted kingfishers are generally solitary, except during the breeding season. Pairs strongly defend their territories throughout the breeding season. The male especially will escort an intruder out of his feeding grounds, scolding all the way. If anything is out of order in a belted kingfisher's territory, it often responds by erecting the crest feathers. However, most territorial defense is accomplished through calling and aerial chases. Hovering in search of prey has been observed. Most individuals migrate, though members of this species are capable of withstanding North American winter temperatures provided that open water is available. Belted kingfishers are active throughout the day. (Hamas, 1994; http://www.efn.org/~jpreed/Eddy1.html)

A vibrating, mechanical rattle is the characteristic call, given at the smallest disturbance. A scream is also often used by both sexes, in confrontational retreat, while displaying a threat, or as a greeting when a mate is approaching.

The main diet of belted kingfishers consists of various types of fish, especially brown trout, bluntnose minnows, bluegill sunfish, sculpin, and Atlantic salmon. They usually eat small fish, but belted kingfishers have been observed to swallow fish as long as the bird itself, sometimes leaving an inch or so of the tail sticking out of the beak. If fish are scarce, they also eat snails, crustaceans, insects, amphibians, reptiles, young birds, small mammals, and berries. Anything that remains undigested is later regurgitated as a pellet. Belted kingfishers normally hunt from perches bordering a body of water. Belted kingfishers dive for their prey with their eyes closed. They usually do not go under water, instead they grab their prey near the surface of shallow waters. Once they have captured their prey, they fly up to a branch, and stun the prey by slamming it against the branch. They then toss it into the air, catch it headfirst, and swallow it. Clear water and a clear view of prey are vital to belted kingfishers for successful foraging. During the summer months they can be seen feeding in small ditches, creeks, large rivers, and along margins of ponds and lakes. (Hamas, 1994; http://www.efn.org/~jpreed/Eddy1.html; http://www.indiana.edu/~iupress/birds/kingfisher.html)

Belted kingfishers will mob predators and can be quite aggressive. They emit a shrill, rattling cry and will chase intruders until they leave the territory. Fledgling belted kingfishers may fall prey to hawks, as they are poor flyers. Other predators will prey on nestlings in the nest, though predation rates of belted kingfisher nestlings is low as they are protected in nest cavities.

Before migratory bird laws were enacted, belted kingfishers were often shot by humans at fish hatcheries and by trout streams, where they were considered significant predators. (Hamas, 1994)

Belted kingfishers are important members of ecosystems and fascinating birds to watch.

Population growth has been stimulated by human activity in some regions, such as the digging of sand and gravel pits, which create nesting habitats. The belted kingfisher does not seem to be as affected as other fish-eating birds by environmental contaminents. It is sometimes still shot illegally at some fish hatcheries. (Hamas, 1994)

There are two subspecies recognized: M. a. alcyon, from eastern North America, and M. a. caurina, from Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. (Hamas, 1994)