August 2026

An iconic bird of the water, the belted kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) joins the ensemble of the Dragon Run watershed as a small but fierce guardian defending the place it calls home.

Kingfishers are known for their compact physique, and the belted kingfisher is no exception. It has a characteristic large head and long, sharp bill, with a small body suited for diving. Its head, wings, back, and tail are a medium blue-gray, with an additional blue-gray band across a white chest that gives the bird its name. Females have a second, reddish-brown stripe across their chests, making the belted kingfisher one of few bird species in which the female is more colorful than the male.

Broadly speaking, the belted kingfisher is found in Canada during the breeding season, in the U.S. year-round, and in Mexico during the wintering season. In most places, they are the only kingfisher species around. The belted kingfisher is often conspicuous in its environment, either because of its prominent perch while looking for prey or its loud, rattling calls. They hunt in open waterways. Their diet consists mostly of fish but will also eat crustaceans, invertebrates, amphibians, and even small birds, reptiles, and mammals. When they see their prey, they dive toward the water and snatch they prey with their beak. The catch is taken to their perch and swallowed headfirst.

Belted kingfishers build their nests in burrows, which is a relatively unconventional practice among birds. They choose sandy or earthen banks near water and construct a tunnel 3-6 feet long that slopes upward and ends in a small nesting chamber. Males establish territories around their burrows, which are defended vigorously by both members of the pair.

These birds typically partner with one mate per breeding season, often producing two clutches of 5-8 eggs. Kingfisher hatchlings hardly look like kingfishers at all; the species is highly altricial, meaning young are less developed at birth and must rely entirely on their parents for survival. The hatchlings weigh around 10 grams (equivalent to 4 pennies), or about 6% of their future adult body weight. They will remain under the care of their parents for about a month before fledging and starting to venture out beyond the nest.

Thankfully, the belted kingfisher is stable in terms of population. They primarily rely on the availability of suitable nesting sites, and may leave if their habitat is disrupted, but not before defending their stretch of the water first. So next time you hear a raucous call echoing across the water, know that you might be in kingfisher territory`.

Sound of the Belted Kingfisher: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/662074338