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 Guide to Birds of North America Belted Kingfisher Description
DescriptionBREEDING MALEThe Belted Kingfisher has blue-gray upperparts, a blue-gray breast band, a long, heavy, spear-like bill, and a shaggy crest. Male has white belly.
FemaleSimilar to male but with reddish belly band.
Seasonal change in appearanceNone.JuvenileSimilar to adult, with rusty-rown spotting in the chest band.HabitatStreams, coasts, and lakes.DietFish.BehaviorForages by plunging into water head first when a fish is spotted.RangeBreeds widely across North America, though it retreats from northernmost portions of its breeding range in winter. Populations declining. More information:Bent Life HistoryVisit the Bent Life History for extensive additional information on the American Goldfinch. Wing ShapeThe shape of a bird's wing is often an indication of its habits and behavior. Fast flying birds have long, pointed wings. Soaring birds have long, broad wings. Different songbirds will have a slightly different wing shape. Some species look so much alike (Empidonax flycatchers) that scientists sometimes use the length of specific feathers to confirm a species' identification. Wing images from the University of Puget Sound, Slater Museum of Natural History Fun FactsBecause dirt banks are required for nesting, their absence can limit the local breeding distribution of this species. Belted Kingfishers seldom return to the same nesting sites in subsequent years. VocalizationsThe call is usually described as a loud rattle.Similar Species
Nesting
The Belted Kingfisher nests in tunnels excavated into vertical dirt banks.
EggsNumber: 6-7.
Professor BirdAttracting
Belted Kingfishers will use banks at sand and gravel pits for nesting.
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