Family: Cerylidae
Genus: Megaceryli
Species: M. alcyon
Binominal Name: Megaceryle alcyon
Synonym: Ceryle alcyon
Fascinating Facts: The Belted Kingfisher is similar to the Blue Jay, Ringed Kingfisher, and the Green Kingfisher. This wild bird is also one of very few bird species, and the only one of 93 Kingfisher breeds where the female is more colorful than the male.
Denoted as a rather active and outspoken breed, the Belted Kingfisher, which is depicted on the 1986 Canadian five-dollar note, is commonly found throughout North America and Canada. This bird's habitat is located near lakes, rivers and streams. This species of bird likes high vantage points, in order to see its prey, and can often be found nestled high in trees, and on other formations close to bodies of water. The Belted Kingfisher's most frequently used call resembles excited chatter or what many ornithology experts refer to as a rattle. The tone and frequency of this call is said to invoke a sense of enthusiasm amongst birdwatchers, especially as they watch the majestic creature dive into water to catch fish and other live prey.
Described as a bird of stocky, medium build, the Belted Kingfisher can be distinguished from other breeds by its distinctive beak and body shape. The bird when fully grown typically measures approximately 28-35 cm or 11-14 inches in length, and weighs between 140-170g or 4.9-6 oz. This species wingspan is usually 48 to 58 cm or 19 to 23 inches in length.
The female Belted Kingfisher is the brighter colored of the sexes with a red chest band and flanks, bluish head and back and white throat and collar, whereas the male is predominately bluish and white colored, with no visible red markings. Both sexes have large heads, and a shaggy crest that looks similar to an 80's hairstyle called the Mohawk.
In addition to this, the Belted Kingfisher typically has a large, thick bill that is dark in color and pale at the base, near the lower mandible. As well as, dark colored eyes and small legs, with gray colored feet that are described as being a yellow tone on the underside, and a white under wing and a short bluish colored tail that is black barred with a white underside and sides. Other distinguishing marks include a white spot that is located just in front of the eyes and an 'e' marking located in the center of the top wing during flight.
This wild bird eats a variety of vertebrates and invertebrates, such as fish, small mammals, lizards, frogs, and aquatic insects, as well as small crustaceans and other small water borne creatures.
The Belted Kingfisher's unusual nesting habits have seen this bird driven from its natural habitat by urban sprawl and man on many occasions. This bird nests in river and sand banks near water, by making an unlined, horizontal tunnel in which the female lays 5-8 white eggs. Both the male and female are responsible for nest creation, egg incubation and raising the young, and will vigilantly defend their territory when nesting. The bird's nest can be anywhere from 30-250 cm or 1-8 ft in length, and their territory 1km or .6mi long.
Hatchling's are born featherless and are considered helpless, and as the baby Belted Kingfisher matures it begins to resemble the adult bird, accept the male bird's chest band is incomplete.
This bird is not considered an endangered species and typically breeds in Alaska to Newfoundland, during summer, and southward to the South of the United States. In the winter months breeding occurs from the south of Canada southward to the north of South America.
