Belted Kingfisher Photo Gallery
Female
Stocky, large-headed bird with a shaggy crest and a thick daggerlike bill. Females are blue-gray with a chestnut belly band and flanks.
© Charlie Bruggemann | Macaulay LibraryNorth Carolina, January 11, 2019Male
Large, crested fish-eating bird. Males are blue-gray with a white collar and blue-gray breast band.
© Michael Nelson | Macaulay LibraryOntario, March 31, 2019Adult male
Typically forages by perching on a high branch or telephone wire before plunging headfirst into a shallow water body. Pursues fish, amphibians, reptiles, and other aquatic prey.
© Eric Liner | Macaulay LibraryFlorida, January 20, 2009Not all videos have soundFemale
Large, big-headed bird with a heft bill. Females are more colorful than males with a chestnut belly band and flanks.
© Matt Murphy | Macaulay LibraryTexas, December 07, 2020Male
Often hovers above water looking for fish. Males have a single blue-gray breast band.
© Matt Davis | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 28, 2017Female
Catches fish by plunging directly into the water from a perch, or by hovering over the water and diving in.
© William Higgins | Macaulay LibraryVirginia, August 01, 2017© Peter Finley | Macaulay LibraryIndiana, August 20, 2020
© Jay McGowan | Macaulay LibraryNew York, November 09, 2020
© Shari McCollough | Macaulay LibraryIndiana, March 11, 2019
Female
Found near streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, and estuaries.
© Pat Hare | Macaulay LibraryOntario, August 27, 2016
Need Bird ID Help? Try Merlin
Don't miss a thing! Join our email list
The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds,
birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.