Belted Kingfisher

Megaceryle alcyon

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernFishRiverineCavity nestMedium · 148 g

What the Belted Kingfisher sounds like

Sonogram of the Belted Kingfisher: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by Jonathon Jongsma · Call · Lake Bemidji State Park, Beltrami, Minnesota, United States · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via xeno-canto
Sonogram of the Belted Kingfisher: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by Jonathon Jongsma · Call · Lake Bemidji State Park, Beltrami, Minnesota, United States · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via xeno-canto
Sonogram of the Belted Kingfisher: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by Doug Hynes · Call · Big Glace Bay Lake National Wildlife Area, Nova Scotia, Canada · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

ID tip

The belted kingfisher is a stocky, medium-sized bird that measures between 28–35 cm (11–14 in) in length with a wingspan of between 48–58 cm (19–23 in). This kingfisher can weigh from 113 to 178 g (4.0 to 6.3 oz). The adult female averages slightly larger than the adult male. This species has a large head with a shaggy crest. Its long, heavy bill is black with a grey base. These features are common in many kingfisher species. Both sexes have a slate blue head, large white collar, a large blue band on the breast, and white underparts.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Belted Kingfisher

One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is September, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Belted Kingfisher

Regular rangeRare visitor

The map shades 47 countries with regular records, and 3 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

Recorded as a rare visitor in Ireland, Iceland, France.

About the Belted Kingfisher

The belted kingfisher is a large, conspicuous water kingfisher, native to North America.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Side by side: Belted Kingfisher vs Ringed Kingfisher · Belted Kingfisher vs Giant Kingfisher · Belted Kingfisher vs Crested Kingfisher

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