| The Belted Kingfisher is bluish gray above and white below with a bluish gray breast stripe and a broad white collar. The head appears large with a bushy crest and spear shaped bill. The female is similar to the male but has a second rust colored band across her belly. Immature birds tend to have a brown rather than the blue-gray breast band. The tail is somewhat stubby and the legs are very short. The call is loud chattering call that carries well across the water.
This Kingfisher breeds in the lakes, streams and saltwater estuaries throughout the United States and most of Canada except for the northern most reaches of Alaska and Canada. Over the Pacific and Atlantic seaboards and most of the Mississippi Valley they are year round residents. When the streams or rivers freeze they will retreat from most of Canada and mountains and prairie land of the western United States as far south as they need to go to find running water and a suitable fishing area.
The male will arrive to the breeding grounds first and begin to defend a nest site. The female may be attracted to the nesting site and bond with the male. The male and female will then jointly defend the nest site and the fishing area. Later, after the young have left the nest the adults will separate and defend a smaller separate territory. Defense of the territory usually consists of their rattling call as well as bobbing the tail and the head, but sometimes the displays can escalate into direct attacks and spirited chases. The nesting site is not necessarily in the same place as the fishing site. The reason for this is a stream that is an excellent food source may not have any suitable nesting habitat. The birds may fly up to a mile away to find a suitable nest and will defend both territories.
The clutch consists of 5 to 8 white eggs which are laid in a horizontal tunnel which is dug alternately by both parents. They prefer a sandy or gravely bank in which to construct their home which can reach lengths of 15 feet but 3 to 6 feet is more common. The nest will usually be located about two feet from the top of the bank and if you see two grooves on the bottom of the entrance where the birds drag their feet when entering and leaving you can be sure you have found a nest for a Belted Kingfisher. The nest is widened at the end and if the nest is undisturbed they may reuse the nest from year to year. The eggs are incubated by both parents for about 24 days and are able to fly about 23 days later. Before fledging the young are fed regurgitated material. Soon after they leave the nest they are taught to hunt be dropping dead prey into the water below them. Others believe that the young learn to catch fish on their own without being taught. A short time later they are forced to leave the parents territory.
The diet consist mainly of fish, in fact they were once killed by trout farmers or fisherman who believed them to be a significant predator. Even though this belief is not entirely unfounded, they now enjoy year round protection by federal law. They will also consume crabs, crayfish, salamanders, lizards mice and insects. Squid and oysters are also eaten in their marine habitats. They can be often be seen on their favorite perches surveying the water for unsuspecting prey. At other times the Kingfisher will hover like a Tern and then dive head first into the water to capture the fish in its powerful bill. If the prey is unruly it will be beaten into submission before it is eaten. It may also toss the prey up in the air before and catch it again before it swallows it head first. Pellets of the indigestible materials are later regurgitated and as the birds tend to reuse the same perches over and over you can often see pellets and bird dropping underneath their favorite perches.
Length: 13 inches.
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