Kingfishers are colorful birds found all over the world. There are over 90 different species of kingfisher, with the most widespread being the common kingfisher. One key identifying feature of some kingfisher species is the presence of a belt or band of color across the breast. This article will examine how to identify if a kingfisher has a belt and what this marking signifies.
What is a belted kingfisher?
A belted kingfisher refers to a kingfisher species that has a belt or band of color across the breast feathers. The most common belted kingfisher found in North America is the belted kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon). As the name suggests, this species has a blue-gray belt of feathers crossing the otherwise white breast.
Other kingfisher species around the world that have a breast band or belt include:
- Collared kingfisher – Found in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands
- Amazon kingfisher – Found in South America
- Woodland kingfisher – Found in sub-Saharan Africa
- White-throated kingfisher – Found in Australia
The belt or breast band serves an important purpose for these kingfishers. The brightly colored feathers distinguish and identify the species. The belt also appears to provide camouflage when the birds are perched in shaded forests. The shadowing helps them blend into the dappled light and shade.
Identifying Features of Belted Kingfishers
There are a few key features to look out for when identifying a belted kingfisher:
- Belt across breast – As the name suggests, belted kingfishers have a distinctive belt or breast band of colorful feathers crossing the front of the chest.
- Blue-gray plumage – Belted kingfishers have blue-gray feathers covering most of their back, wings, and heads. The female may have a more gray appearance.
- White underbelly – Belted kingfishers have white or light-colored feathers on the chin, throat, and underbelly.
- Shaggy crest – They have a shaggy, peaked crest on the top of the head.
- Long, dagger-like bill – Belted kingfishers have a long, straight bill that is thick and dagger-shaped. This helps them catch fish.
Color of the Belt
The color of the belt can help identify the specific species:
- Belted kingfisher – Has a blue-gray colored belt across the breast.
- Collared kingfisher – Has a reddish-brown or chestnut colored belt.
- Amazon kingfisher – Has a rusty red or chestnut breast band.
- Woodland kingfisher – Has a bright blue breast belt.
- White-throated kingfisher – Has a reddish-brown belt.
So if you note the belt is blue-gray, it is likely the belted kingfisher found in North America. A red-brown belt indicates a collared, Amazon, or white-throated species.
Gender Differences
There are some subtle differences between male and female belted kingfishers that can help identify their gender:
- Females have an extra cinnamon-colored band across the belly.
- Females have grayer blue plumage while males are brighter blue.
- Males have a single blue-gray band across the white chest. Females have a band of blue-gray and a band of cinnamon brown.
- Females are larger than males and have a bigger head.
Identifying Juveniles
Juvenile belted kingfishers look different than adults:
- They have messy or unfocused breast bands.
- Their plumage is duller and browner.
- The white color on the throat and belly is dirtied.
- Their breast bands may be dilute reddish-brown.
With age, the juvenile’s plumage will gradually brighten into the sharper, bluer, and cleaner adult coloring.
How does the belted kingfisher use its belt?
The belted kingfisher uses its colorful breast belt in several key ways:
Camouflage
When perched in shaded riverside forests, the breast band helps break up the bird’s outline so it blends into the dappled light and shadows. This helps conceal the kingfisher as it surveys the water for prey.
Communication
The belts and bright plumage help kingfishers identify each other and coordinate breeding activities. The blue-gray belt communicates the bird’s species and gender.
Attracting a Mate
The belts and plumage brightness play an important role in kingfisher mating rituals. Males and females use the belts to assess potential partners. Brighter plumage and belts indicate better fitness.
Where are belted kingfishers found?
Belted kingfishers are widespread across North America near waterways and coasts including:
- Lakes
- Rivers
- Streams
- Ponds
- Marshes
- Estuaries
They excavate nesting tunnels in the earthen banks adjacent to the water. Ideal kingfisher habitat has clear, deep water with trees and perches overlooking fishing areas.
Range and Distribution
Region | Range |
---|---|
Canada | All provinces and territories |
USA | All states except Hawaii |
Mexico | Northern and central regions |
Central America | Patchy distribution along coasts as far south as Panama |
Belted kingfishers may migrate south in harsh northern winters, but many remain year-round near open waters where they can hunt.
What is the belted kingfisher’s habitat?
Belted kingfishers are uniquely adapted to thrive around waterways. Their ideal habitat has:
- Clear, deep lakes, rivers, or estuaries with visible fish
- Slow to moderate water flow
- Trees, snags, or posts for perching over the water’s edge
- Steep, vegetated earthen banks for nesting tunnels
- Open areas to hunt with a wide visual field
They may frequent both pristine wilderness waters and developed areas such as canals, quarry pits, reservoirs, or ponds in urban parks. However, water pollution and turbidity will decrease hunting success.
Nesting Habitat
For nesting, belted kingfishers require earthen cliffs or banks near water where they can excavate deep tunnels. Ideal nesting banks have:
- Steep slope of 50-70 degrees
- Vertical height over 6 feet
- Soil composed of fine clay, sand, or gravel
The female kingfisher excavates the tunnel alone over 1-2 weeks. The tunnel ends in a widened nesting chamber with a raised floor above the water table.
What does the belted kingfisher eat?
Belted kingfishers are carnivores that feed almost entirely on fish and aquatic prey. Their diet typically includes:
- Fish – Usually 2-6 inches long. Catches live fish underwater.
- Crayfish
- Crabs
- Frogs
- Newts
- Insects – Such as dragonflies.
They require clear water to successfully hunt fish by sight. Perching in trees along the shoreline, they search for prey swimming below. Once spotted, they plunge directly into the water to catch fish with their dagger-like bills.
Fishing Techniques
Belted kingfishers use a variety of fishing and hunting techniques:
- Perch hunting – Perches on low branches overhanging water to search for prey below.
- Hover hunting – Hovers 10-40 feet over water and dives vertically to catch fish.
- Skimming – Skims low over the water surface and snatches prey without fully submerging.
- Plunge diving – Dives completely below the surface to catch deeper fish not visible from above.
Their unique anatomy allows them to crash into the water and grab prey with great speed and force.
Interesting facts about belted kingfishers
- Belted kingfishers nest in tunnels up to 8 feet deep excavated into earthen banks.
- A kingfisher pair may reuse and enlarge the same nesting tunnel for many years.
- The female performs a loud, lengthy rattling call to attract a mate.
- Belted kingfishers have competitive skirmishes with other kingfishers to claim fishing territories.
- A belted kingfisher can eat over half its body weight in fish daily.
- They have backward-facing scales to protect their eyes when diving for fish.
- Belted kingfishers migrate south in harsh winters but many remain year-round near open water.
- They are solitary hunters and only interact with their mate at the nesting site.
- The male feeds the female while she incubates eggs and broods hatchlings in the nest.
- Belted kingfishers serve as an indicator species of water quality.
Conclusion
The belted kingfisher is a fascinating and unique waterbird specialized for fishing. Key identification signs include its stout dagger bill, shaggy crest, blue-gray and white plumage, and distinctive breast band. These kingfishers thrive around clear, deep waters where they dive for fish and aquatic prey. Their bright belts serve as camouflage, communication and mating signals. Belted kingfishers can be found near lakes, streams, estuaries and rivers across most of North America. Watch for their rattling call and dramatic plunge dives as they hunt. With a little practice, anyone can learn to spot the signs of these common, yet elusive waterbirds.