 Species
Name
- Ceryle alcyon - Belted Kingfisher
Physical Description
- Size: 11-14"
- Pigeon size MOL
- Wingspan: 19-23"
- Weight: 5-6oz
- Large head with bushy crest.
- Large, thick dagger like bill.
- Bluish head and back.
- White throat and collar.
- Wings white underside with dark tips.
- Dark bill with pale base to lower mandible.
- Barred tail.
- Relatively small legs and feet.
- Dark pointed breast band.
Physical differences between sexes
- Male: White belly, dark pointed breast band. No orange/rufous
chest/belly band.
- Female: White belly, dark pointed breast band. With orange/rufous
chest/belly band. One of the few avian species where the female is more
colorful.
Habitat
- Freshwater lakes, streams, rivers, retention ponds, etc.
- Saltwater tidal creeks and pools, bays, lagoons, etc.
 Range
- Summer Range - Breeds from Alaska to Newfoundland, southward to
southern United States.
- Winter Range - Southern Canada southward to northern South America.
Forage
- Watches water from perch or while hovering. Dives into water head
first to catch prey by impaling it on bill. Larger prey will be killed
at perch by pounding it against the perch. Tosses prey up and catches it
to ingest.
Food
- Primarily fish, with some aquatic invertebrates and insects.
Nest Type
- Burrow in bank near a body of water. No lining used.
Photographers need to know that they...
- are incredibly skittish and very difficult to approach.
- have great vision.
- are creatures of habit and that they will frequent the same perches
at about the same time each day.
- will sound off to announce their arrival.
Shooting Solutions
- Shoot from a blind, even in the blind keep movement to a minimum. At
certain angles they can see through your lens and detect movement.
- Shoot with a group of photographers. Station a photographer at each
known perch in a localized area. When the perch that is occupied by the
Kingfisher is approached, the Kingfisher will leave that perch for one
of the other perches where another photographer is stationed. A few
frames are often possible before the Kingfisher notices the
photographer's presence.
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