Belted Kingfisher

Kingfishers primarily eat fish, but will also eat small frogs, tadpoles, crustaceans, and insects.

Ohio Division of Natural Resources

 

Scientific Name

Megaceryle alcyon

 

Identification

• Belted kingfishers have a blue-grey head, back, wings, and tail. The head is topped by a prominent crest, and separated from the body by a white collar.
• They have a white underside with a brown band stretching from the base of one wing to the other.
• They are often heard before they are seen, and have a long, rattling call.

 

Habitat

• Belted kingfishers can be found near large bodies of water across almost all of North America, either while migrating or as permanent residents.
• In the Grand Canyon, belted kingfishers are rarely seen but may be found year-round along the Colorado River and it's tributary streams.

 

Behavior

• Kingfishers primarily eat small fish. They watch for fish by hovering over water or perching on branches overhanging water. Once a fish is seen, the kingfisher dives headfirst into the water to capture it.
• Kingfishers occasionally feed on other aquatic creatures, including frogs, tadpoles, and insects.
• They nest in tunnels dug into steep dirt banks. Once a tunnel 3-6 feet (0.9-1.8m) long has been dug, the female will lay 6-7 eggs on the floor of the tunnel.
• Both parents help feed the chicks, which leave the nest approximately 4 weeks after hatching.