ExploreBird

Belted Kingfisher

Megaceryle alcyon

The Belted Kingfisher is a magnificent bird with a striking blue and white coloration. It loves to dive from perches into water to catch fish for its meals.

Habitat: Coastal areas

Appearance

The Belted Kingfisher has a shaggy crest and striking blue-gray plumage on its back and head. Its white belly features a broad, rusty band in females and a single blue-gray band in males, making them easy to differentiate. They possess a long, sturdy, dagger-like bill.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderCoraciiformesFamilyAlcedinidaeGenusMegaceryle

Belted Kingfisher

Interesting facts

Kingfisher chicks are born naked and blind inside their dark, underground tunnels.

Their strong, spiky crest feathers can be raised and lowered, showing how they feel!

These birds fly with a distinctive undulating, wavy pattern across the water!

They often whack larger fish against a branch multiple times before swallowing them whole!

Special abilities

Belted Kingfishers can plunge headfirst from heights into water, using their strong, pointed beak to snatch fish.

These birds dig long nesting tunnels, sometimes over six feet deep, into earthen banks using their bill and feet.

The Belted Kingfisher can hover in mid-air above water, allowing it to precisely target fish before a rapid dive.

Measurements & details

Length: 28-35 cm
Wingspan: 48-58 cm
Weight: 0.14-0.17 kg
Lifespan: 3-8 years
Top Speed: 45 km/h
Clutch Size: 5-8
Incubation: 22-24 days
Migration Distance: 4000 km

Diet & Feeding

Mainly eats fish, but also enjoys insects and small aquatic creatures.

Age differences: Young chicks are fed regurgitated, partially digested fish by their parents.

Primary Foods

small fish
crayfish
aquatic insects
frogs
lizards

Foraging Method

Ambush

Ecological connections

hunts

Three-spined stickleback

Gasterosteus aculeatus

A common small fish preyed upon in freshwater habitats.

eaten by

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

Predators of adult kingfishers or their young, especially at night.

eaten by

American Mink

Neovison vison

Mammalian predator that may raid kingfisher nests in burrows.

Traits

Wildlife

Step into the incredible world of wild animals and plants living freely in nature. From tiny insects to towering trees, it's all part of the wild wonders around us!

Feathered

These are animals covered in soft, beautiful feathers that help them fly, stay warm, and even attract mates! Think of all the amazing birds you know.

Aerial

Discover amazing creatures that spend much of their lives soaring high above the ground, often using wings to fly! They might hunt, travel, or even sleep up in the sky.

Piscivorous

Discover amazing animals that love to eat fish! They're like expert underwater hunters, always on the lookout for a tasty meal from the rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Tool Use

Discover amazing animals that cleverly use objects from their environment to help them find food, build homes, or protect themselves. They're nature's clever inventors!

Coastal

Discover life found along the edges where land meets the sea! These habitats are always changing with the tides and waves, offering unique environments.