Belted Kingfisher Photo Gallery
Female
Stocky, large-headed bird with a shaggy crest and a thick daggerlike bill. Females are blue-gray with a chestnut belly band and flanks.
© Charlie Bruggemann / Macaulay LibraryNorth Carolina, January 11, 2019Male
Large, crested fish-eating bird. Males are blue-gray with a white collar and blue-gray breast band.
© Michael Nelson / Macaulay LibraryOntario, March 31, 2019Adult male
Typically forages by perching on a high branch or telephone wire before plunging headfirst into a shallow water body. Pursues fish, amphibians, reptiles, and other aquatic prey.
© Eric Liner / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, January 20, 2009Not all videos have soundImmature
Immatures' upper breast band is a mix of rufous and slate gray.
© Jack & Holly Bartholmai / Macaulay LibraryWisconsin, July 25, 2012Female
Large, big-headed bird with a hefty bill. Females are more colorful than males with a chestnut belly band and flanks.
© Matt Murphy / Macaulay LibraryTexas, December 07, 2020Male
Often hovers above water looking for fish. Males have a single blue-gray breast band.
© Matt Davis / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 28, 2017Female
Catches fish by plunging directly into the water from a perch, or by hovering over the water and diving in.
© William Higgins / Macaulay LibraryVirginia, August 01, 2017In flight, note the large white patch in the outer wings.
© Peter F / Macaulay LibraryIndiana, August 20, 2020Belted Kingfishers spend much of their time perched alone along the edges of streams, lakes, and estuaries, searching for small fish.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, November 09, 2020The only kingfisher across all of Canada and most of the United States. Easily recognizable by heavy bill, large head, slate gray head and upperparts, and white collar.
© Shari McCollough / Macaulay LibraryIndiana, March 11, 2019Female
Found near streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, and estuaries.
© Pat Hare / Macaulay LibraryOntario, August 27, 2016
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