North American field guide
Belted Kingfisher
Megaceryle alcyon
Identification
Field notes
33 cm (13") Common throughout North America. The only kingfisher north of Texas and Arizona. Rivers, streams, lakeshores, coastal bays.
Large-headed bushy crested fishing bird.
Male: blue-gray above; broad blue-gray breast band; white throat and collar; white belly.
Female: more colourful than male; blue-gray above; broad blue-gray breast band; white throat and collar; rust-colored belly band and sides.
In flight; often hovers above water and plunges head first for fish.
Nest is in an excavated tunnel dug out of a steep sand bank which may be far from water.
Song: loud squirrel-like rattle often given in flight.
Details in the field
Photo gallery
Watch and learn
Videos
Kingfisher vs. Bullhead
Credit: Fred KellermanWhere it lives
Distribution maps
Source legend · original intervals
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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence
Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.
Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants · 2 rules
These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.
Belted Kingfisher (Female)
1 ruleRule 1 15 criteria · confidence 6
- What SIZE was the TAIL ?
- Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the TAIL ?
- Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Blue · Unknown
- What colour was the BELLY ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
- What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?
- Uniform color · Dark band or bands running across the breast or neck · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Blue · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
- What colour was the BILL ?
- Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and thick · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Medium · Long · Very long · Unknown
- What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
- Light area between the bill and the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
- What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
- Blue · Unknown
- What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Blue · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Songbird (ground or perching bird)
Belted Kingfisher (Male)
1 ruleRule 1 15 criteria · confidence 6
- What SIZE was the TAIL ?
- Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the TAIL ?
- Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Blue · Unknown
- What colour was the BELLY ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
- What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?
- Uniform color · Dark band or bands running across the breast or neck · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Blue · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
- What colour was the BILL ?
- Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and thick · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Medium · Long · Very long · Unknown
- What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
- Light area between the bill and the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
- What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
- Blue · Unknown
- What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Blue · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Songbird (ground or perching bird)