Belted Kingfisher
Belted Kingfisher
Female
- Short and stocky with shaggy crest
- Heavy, dagger-like black bill
- Slaty blue above with white collar
- Female shows two bands on chest, with the upper band mostly blue and the lower reddish-brown
- © Nick Chill, CA, San Diego, February 2010
Belted Kingfisher
Female
- Short and stocky
- Shaggy blue crest
- White collar
- Female shows two breast bands with the upper band mostly blue and the lower reddish brown
- © rivadock4, MD, Annapolis, May 2011
Belted Kingfisher
Male
- Short and stocky with shaggy blue crest
- Stout black bill
- White underparts
- Male shows single blue breast band
- © Ed Schneider, TN, Nashville, February 2009
Belted Kingfisher
Female
- Stocky with shaggy blue crest
- Short tail
- Dagger-like black bill
- Female shows two breast bands, with the upper band blue and the lower reddish brown
- © cdbtx, WA, Lake Kayak, Monroe, January 2009
Belted Kingfisher
Female
- Often perches upright on exposed snags
- Shaggy blue crest
- Very short legs
- Female shows second reddish-brown band below blue breast band
- © Cameron Rognan, NY, Sapsucker Woods, Ithaca, June 2009
Belted Kingfisher
Male in flight
- Short tail striped black and white
- Prominent, dagger-like black bill
- Male mostly white below with single blue breast band
- © Michaela Sagatova, Dundas, Ontario, Canada, January 2011
Belted Kingfisher
Female
- Shaggy blue crest
- Sits upright on exposed perches
- Blue back and wings
- Upper breast band usually blue, but occasionally coppery
- Female shows second, reddish brown band on belly
- © Syd Phillips, TN, Nonaville, June 2011
Belted Kingfisher
In flight
- Long wings and short tail
- Thick black bill very prominent
- Bold white patches on upper surface of wings
- Mostly slaty blue above with white collar
- © Joan Gellatly, AZ, Tucson, December 2010
Similar Species
Adult
- Smaller and more slender than Belted Kingfisher
- Crest peaked, not "shaggy"
- Thin black necklace instead of large blue breast band
- © Gary Tyson, Tioga County, PA, April 2009