Belted Kingfisher Similar Species Comparison

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.

Male

Large, crested fish-eating bird. Males are blue-gray with a white collar and blue-gray breast band.

Adult 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.

Immature

Immatures' upper breast band is a mix of rufous and slate gray.

Female

Large, big-headed bird with a hefty bill. Females are more colorful than males with a chestnut belly band and flanks.

Male

Often hovers above water looking for fish. Males have a single blue-gray breast band.

Female

Catches fish by plunging directly into the water from a perch, or by hovering over the water and diving in.

In flight, note the large white patch in the outer wings.

Belted Kingfishers spend much of their time perched alone along the edges of streams, lakes, and estuaries, searching for small fish.

The 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.

Female

Found near streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, and estuaries.