Kingfishers

Illustration of a Belted Kingfisher.
NPS/Intern Tristan Thomas

Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)

• The Belted Kingfisher is one of the few bird species where the female is more brightly colored than the male
• As nestlings, Belted Kingfishers have acidic stomachs which helps them digest bones, fish scales, and arthropod shells. When they get older their stomach chemistry changes and they can no longer do this.
• When threatened, the Belted Kingfisher may scream, spread its wings, and raise the patch of white feathers next to each eye.
• When choosing a nest, they excavate burrows in earthen banks and usually try to avoid those banks that have vegetation on them

Identification Information

• Size: Robin sized (Medium)
• Color: Belted Kingfishers are a blue/gray with white spotting on their wings and tail. They have white bellies and necks with a blue/gray band on their chest. In addition to the blue/gray chest band, females also have a rusty brown brown band underneath.

 

All of the above information is an abbreviated version of information gathered from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Please visit their website for more in-depth bird information.