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Associations

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Belted kingfishers have few natural predators, which may include accipiters and falcons, including Cooper's hawks, sharp-shinned hawks, and peregrine falcons. When pursued by these birds, belted kingfishers dive under the water repeatedly until the predator ceases pursuit. The light underside and darker back of the kingfisher is a camouflage adaptation.

Known Predators:

  • Cooper's hawks (Accipiter cooperii)
  • sharp-shinned hawks (Accipiter striatus)
  • peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus)
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Schablein, J. 2012. "Megaceryle alcyon" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Megaceryle_alcyon.html
author
John Schablein, Radford University
editor
Karen Francl, Radford University
editor
Kiersten Newtoff, Radford University
editor
Melissa Whistleman, Radford University
editor
Catherine Kent, Special Projects
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Morphology

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Belted kingfishers have proportionally larger heads than most bird species of a similar size. The head is fully feathered and features a tall prominent crest. The feathers on the occiput and nape are slightly taller than the center of the crest, resulting in a doubly pointed crest. Their bills are heavy and tapered to a point providing them with an advantage when diving head-first into the water for prey. Their bill is generally longer than their head. The nostrils are narrow slits with a broad operculum overlapping. Belted kingfishers have relatively short wings. They have 11 primary feathers and 12 to 15 secondary feathers. Belted kingfishers are a stout birds weighing an average of 150 grams. Their feet are proportionally small, the tarsus is short, and the tibia is featherless. The hallux is shorter than the inner and outer most toes. The inner toes are fused together, which is known as syndactyly. This fusion results in what appears to be a single long flattened toe which the bird uses to excavate nesting cavities. The outermost toe is as long as the fused toes, and at the end of each toe is a sharp pointed claw.

The large head and crest of belted kingfishers is a slate-blue. There is a white dot of the lores between the eye and the bill. The neck has a white collar that wraps around the neck almost entirely, and below that white collar there is a dark band that wraps around the uppermost portion of the breast and connects to the slate-blue back. The remaining underside of the male is white. Belted kingfishers exhibit an infrequent display of avian sexual dimorphism, where the female is more colorful than male. The female has another rufous band below the shared dark band which is separated by a small white patch. The back of both sexes is the same slate-blue color as the head, but the greater primary coverts display a white wing-patch. On average, belted kingfishers are 32.2 cm tall and have a wingspan of 58.8 cm.

Average mass: 150 g.

Average length: 33.2 cm.

Average wingspan: 58.8 cm.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism: sexes colored or patterned differently; female more colorful

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Schablein, J. 2012. "Megaceryle alcyon" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Megaceryle_alcyon.html
author
John Schablein, Radford University
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Karen Francl, Radford University
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Kiersten Newtoff, Radford University
editor
Melissa Whistleman, Radford University
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Catherine Kent, Special Projects
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Life Expectancy

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No literature was found on the lifespan of belted kingfishers.

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Schablein, J. 2012. "Megaceryle alcyon" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Megaceryle_alcyon.html
author
John Schablein, Radford University
editor
Karen Francl, Radford University
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Kiersten Newtoff, Radford University
editor
Melissa Whistleman, Radford University
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Catherine Kent, Special Projects
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Habitat

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The habitat of belted kingfishers requires a body of water, often surrounded by forest, that features nearly vertical exposed earth for digging burrows in which it nests. Example habitats include lake or river banks, but also cuts from roads and railways and pits of sand and gravel. Acceptable bodies of water include rivers, ponds, streams, coasts, and lakes. Males seek higher-order waterways with more herbaceous plant life than trees, which have less obstructions that block nesting. The waters must be clear and have areas of smooth water so that belted kingfishers can detect prey. Higher, steeper banks are preferred as a defense against both flooding and predation. Availability of perches is also important for belted kingfishers as a visual vantage point for locating prey. Exposed banks are essential for shelter and nesting sites. Desirable breeding habitat characteristics are the same as desirable non-breeding habitats. Belted kingfishers occur up to 2743 meters elevation.

Range elevation: 0 to 2743 m.

Habitat Regions: temperate ; terrestrial ; freshwater

Terrestrial Biomes: forest

Aquatic Biomes: lakes and ponds; rivers and streams; temporary pools; coastal

Other Habitat Features: riparian

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Schablein, J. 2012. "Megaceryle alcyon" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Megaceryle_alcyon.html
author
John Schablein, Radford University
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Karen Francl, Radford University
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Kiersten Newtoff, Radford University
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Melissa Whistleman, Radford University
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Catherine Kent, Special Projects
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Distribution

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The geographic range of Megaceryle alcyon (belted kingfisher) includes all of the land masses within the Neartic region, including northern territories of Canada, mainland United States, and all of Greenland. The range of belted kingfishers extends as far south as Panama. Belted kingfishers nest in a slightly smaller range that extends from central Alaska to southern California and the southern Yucatán and from central Labrador and Newfoundland to southern Florida.

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )

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Schablein, J. 2012. "Megaceryle alcyon" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Megaceryle_alcyon.html
author
John Schablein, Radford University
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Karen Francl, Radford University
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Kiersten Newtoff, Radford University
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Melissa Whistleman, Radford University
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Catherine Kent, Special Projects
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Trophic Strategy

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Belted kingfishers are primarily opportunistic carnivores. They may also eat berries when ideal prey is unavailable. Hunting sites include rivers, streams, small lakes, ponds, and coastal waters. Lakes must be small because wave action makes sighting prey difficult. Their preferred prey is fish, and then crayfish. Belted kingfishers eat fish between 4 and 14 cm in length, but have been recorded consuming fish as long as 17.8 cm. Methods of hunting include still hunting as well as active hunting. The still hunting method, which is more energy efficient, involves perching on an unobstructed and usually dead limb of a tree overlooking the feeding site. When prey is spotted, they dive off the branch toward the water at an angle, entering head first. While active hunting, belted kingfishers hover around 90.14 meters from the surface of the water. Once prey is spotted, they either dive straight down or in a spiraling motion. Shallow, headfirst dives frequently result in an incomplete submersion of the bird. Both of these methods require high water clarity and a shallow depth.

Once a prey item has been caught with the bill, they return to the scouting perch. At this point they immobilize the prey by striking it against the limb of the tree or even stabbing the prey with their bill. Then, belted kingfishers toss the prey into the air and consume it head first. If the fish is too large, they leave the fish protruding from its beak, and allow digestive enzymes to break down the first portion of the fish before swallowing the remainder. Similar to an owl, indigestible material such as bones and scales are discarded orally in the form of a pellet. When water is highly turbid, fish are too energetically expensive to pursue, and crayfish become the primary prey item. Belted kingfishers also hunt crayfish when out-competed by mergansers. In colder water, the diet of belted kingfishers includes sculpins and trout. In warmer water, they prey on slower-moving fish including suckers, sticklebacks, perch, and pike. Where fish are unavailable, belted kingfishers consume larval amphibians. Other possible prey items include butterflies and moths, snakes, mollusks, turtles, juvenile birds, small mammals and almost any other insect. Invertebrates such as caddisflies are also are found in their stomachs. However, researchers speculate that prey fish consume the caddisfly rather than belted kingfishers.

Animal Foods: birds; mammals; amphibians; reptiles; fish; insects; mollusks; aquatic crustaceans

Plant Foods: fruit

Primary Diet: carnivore (Piscivore )

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Schablein, J. 2012. "Megaceryle alcyon" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Megaceryle_alcyon.html
author
John Schablein, Radford University
editor
Karen Francl, Radford University
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Kiersten Newtoff, Radford University
editor
Melissa Whistleman, Radford University
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Catherine Kent, Special Projects
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Untitled

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Belted kingfishers were previously known by the scientific name Ceryle alcyon.

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Schablein, J. 2012. "Megaceryle alcyon" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Megaceryle_alcyon.html
author
John Schablein, Radford University
editor
Karen Francl, Radford University
editor
Kiersten Newtoff, Radford University
editor
Melissa Whistleman, Radford University
editor
Catherine Kent, Special Projects
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Behavior

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Belted kingfishers use sight as their primary means of perception. Their eyes have two fovea which give them the advantage of precise depth perception. Oils within their eyes improve their ability to see color. Their eyes are protected by a nictitating membrane when diving for fish. This membrane does impede their vision so their sense of touch becomes increasingly important after the bird has entered the water. They close their bill when they feel contact with a prey item. All kingfishers are exceptionally vocal. Their calls are used for communication and claiming territory. Belted kingfishers exhibit at least six different calls which they combine in different ways to express different messages. The call most commonly heard by the casual observer is a call used for territory delineation, which is a long, high-pitched chatter or rattle.

Communication Channels: acoustic

Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical

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bibliographic citation
Schablein, J. 2012. "Megaceryle alcyon" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Megaceryle_alcyon.html
author
John Schablein, Radford University
editor
Karen Francl, Radford University
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Kiersten Newtoff, Radford University
editor
Melissa Whistleman, Radford University
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Catherine Kent, Special Projects
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Conservation Status

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Belted kingfishers are not endangered and populations appear stable throughout their range.

US Migratory Bird Act: no special status

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

State of Michigan List: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: no special status

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bibliographic citation
Schablein, J. 2012. "Megaceryle alcyon" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Megaceryle_alcyon.html
author
John Schablein, Radford University
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Karen Francl, Radford University
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Kiersten Newtoff, Radford University
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Melissa Whistleman, Radford University
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Catherine Kent, Special Projects
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Benefits

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Belted kingfishers sometimes prey on fingerlings of fish hatcheries.

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bibliographic citation
Schablein, J. 2012. "Megaceryle alcyon" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Megaceryle_alcyon.html
author
John Schablein, Radford University
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Karen Francl, Radford University
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Kiersten Newtoff, Radford University
editor
Melissa Whistleman, Radford University
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Catherine Kent, Special Projects
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Benefits

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Belted kingfishers are appreciated by bird enthusiasts.

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bibliographic citation
Schablein, J. 2012. "Megaceryle alcyon" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Megaceryle_alcyon.html
author
John Schablein, Radford University
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Karen Francl, Radford University
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Kiersten Newtoff, Radford University
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Melissa Whistleman, Radford University
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Catherine Kent, Special Projects
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Associations

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Belted kingfishers are top predators in both marine and freshwater aquatic food webs. They do not have any mutualistic intraspecies interaction or parasitize, but serve as a primary host for trematodes (Crassiphiala bulboglossa).

Commensal/Parasitic Species:

  • trematodes (Crassiphiala bulboglossa)
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bibliographic citation
Schablein, J. 2012. "Megaceryle alcyon" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Megaceryle_alcyon.html
author
John Schablein, Radford University
editor
Karen Francl, Radford University
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Kiersten Newtoff, Radford University
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Melissa Whistleman, Radford University
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Catherine Kent, Special Projects
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Reproduction

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Male belted kingfishers establish a breeding territory that attracts females. This typically encompasses 800 to 1,200 meters of shoreline. Belted kingfishers establish their territory around April, roughly one month before females return from their winter location. If the birds females wintered in the same region where they will breed, the female will be accepted into the male’s territory in early May. Belted kingfishers are seasonally monogamous, and form a pair that works together during nesting.

Belted kingfishers are seasonally monogamous, and form a pair bond that works together during nesting. After courtship is complete, belted kingfishers excavate a nesting cavity. These are preferably constructed close to a fishing site but have been recorded as much as 1.6 km away. Both males and females are formidable diggers and take turns to excavate the nest, using both their bills and specially adapted feet. Belted kingfishers have two fused toes, which act like a shovel during digging. Eggs are laid in the back of a tunnel dug into the bank. This cavity in total averages 15.24 by 25.40 cm. Entrances to the tunnel are placed between 0.30 and 0.91 meters from the top of the bank, and average 10.16 cm wide and 8.89 cm tall. The tunnel will often incline as depth increases. Depths of these tunnels are typically between 0.91 and 1.82 meters deep but have been recorded as deep as 4.57 meters. Construction takes 3 days to 3 three weeks depending on substrate characteristics. Heavy rain events can delay digging for 2 or 3 days. Sbterranean obstructions are avoided or, in some cases, the nest is abandoned.

Mating System: monogamous

Belted kingfishers breed once a year between the months of April and July, depending in part on their geographic location. In some southern states breeding events may occur twice in one year. Females lay 5 to 8 oval, glossy white eggs in the back of the nesting cavity which hatch in 23 or 24 days. Newly excavated cavities require eggs to be laid on the bare dirt. With time or reuse of nesting cavity, a collection of indigestible material (bones, scales, exoskeletons) may pad the floor of the nest; feathers, grasses, straw, moss, and twigs have been infrequently recorded. At birth, hatchlings weigh 9 to 13 grams, and young fledge after a minimum of 23 days. It takes approximately six weeks before the fledglings become independent. Both the male and female reach sexual maturity approximately one year later.

Breeding interval: Belted kingfishers breed once a year in northern states, but have been recorded to breed twice in the southern parts of their breeding range.

Breeding season: Breeding season occurs in April and May while pair bond is finishing construction of their nest.

Range eggs per season: 5 to 8.

Average eggs per season: 7.

Range time to hatching: 23 to 24 days.

Range fledging age: 23 (low) days.

Average time to independence: 6 weeks.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 1 years.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 1 years.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; oviparous

The female is the primary incubator, but both of the adults participate. The female is responsible for all nocturnal incubation, and little is known about the male’s nocturnal roosting site. Some males roost in a shallow dugout near the primary nesting cavity. When one mate comes to relieve the other from incubating, he or she will perch near to the entrance and call. At this time the other mate will exit before the caller enters. After an incubation period of 23 or 24 days, hatching occurs within a 12 to 18 hour period. Attentive brooding by the female occurs for the first 3 to 4 days and then begins to taper off. By the 6th day, brooding comes to a complete halt. During that brooding period the male feeds twice as much as the female. Food provisions begin with very small fish or even regurgitated food. Later on, crayfish, tadpoles, and even insects are incorporated into their diet. Young belted kingfishers consume their body weight in food each day. Once provisions cease and the young develop feathers, they are forced out of the nest. At this time, adults begin training by dropping fish into the water and making the young retrieve it. About a week after leaving the nest, the young are able to catch crayfish on their own. Within 2 to 3 weeks, they develop proficient predatory skills over most prey items. Young will move into dense foliage near the present waterway. At this time adults observe from their regular perches, likely to serve as protectors. Once the young are about 6 weeks old, they are fully independent.

Parental Investment: altricial ; male parental care ; female parental care ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Male, Female, Protecting: Male, Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Male, Female, Protecting: Male, Female); pre-independence (Provisioning: Male, Female, Protecting: Male, Female)

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bibliographic citation
Schablein, J. 2012. "Megaceryle alcyon" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Megaceryle_alcyon.html
author
John Schablein, Radford University
editor
Karen Francl, Radford University
editor
Kiersten Newtoff, Radford University
editor
Melissa Whistleman, Radford University
editor
Catherine Kent, Special Projects
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Habitat

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Belted kingfishers are typically found along rivers and streams and along lake and pond edges (Hamas, 1974). They are also common on seacoasts and estuaries (Bent, 1940). They prefer waters that are free of thick vegetation that obscures the view of the water and water that is not completely overshadowed by trees (Bent, 1940; White, 1953). Kingfishers also require relatively clear water in order to see their prey and are noticeably absent in areas when waters become turbid (Bent, 1940; Davis, 1982; Salyer and Lagler, 1946). White (1953) suggested that water less than 60 cm deep is preferred. They prefer stream riffles for foraging sites even when pools are more plentiful because of the concentration of fish at riffle edges (Davis, 1982). Belted kingfishers nest in burrows within steep earthen banks devoid of vegetation beside rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes; they also have been found to nest in slopes created by human excavations such as roadcuts and landfills (Hamas, 1974). Sandy soil banks, which are easy to excavate and provide good drainage, are preferred (Brooks and Davis, 1987; Cornwell, 1963; White, 1953). In general, kingfishers nest near suitable fishing areas when possible but will nest away from water and feed in bodies of water other than the one closest to home (Cornwell, 1963).

Behavior

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Their common territorial call is a long, uneven rattle most similar to the Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) rattle but harsher, unsteady, clattering. Also, a higher, shorter, more musical, rapid trill tirrrrr. The Belted kingfisher is generally solitary. Favorite perches include branches, stumps, snags, and power lines along waterways, boating piers and docks. Some predators are snakes, mammals, the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) and sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus). They may avoid their raptor predators by diving below the water’s surface. The flight of the kingfisher is strong and direct but sometimes short-lived.

Reproduction

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During the breeding season, pairs establish territories for nesting and fishing (Davis, 1982); otherwise, belted kingfishers are solitary. They are not colonial nesters and will defend an unused bank if it lies within their territory (Davis, 1982). In migrating populations, the males arrive before the females to find suitable nesting territories (Davis, 1982). Kingfishers excavate their burrows in earthen banks, forming a tunnel that averages 1 to 2 m in length, although some burrows may be as long as 3 to 4 m (Hamas, 1981; Prose, 1985). The burrow entrance is usually 30 to 90 cm from the top of the bank (Bent, 1940; White, 1953) and at least 1.5 m from the base (Cornwell, 1963). Burrows closer to the top may collapse, and burrows too low may flood (Brooks and Davis, 1987). Burrows may be used for more than one season (Bent, 1940). Five to seven eggs are laid on bare substrate or on fish bones within the burrow (Hamas, 1981; White, 1953). Only one adult, usually the female, spends the night in the nest cavity; males usually roost in nearby forested areas or heavy cover (Cornwell, 1963). Both parents incubate eggs and feed the young (Bent, 1940). After fledging, the young remain with their parents for 10 to 15 days (Sayler and Lagler, 1946).

Size

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The sexes are similar in size and appearance, although the female tends to be slightly larger (Salyer and Lagler, 1946). Bent (1940) reported that western populations are somewhat larger than eastern ones. Nestlings reach adult body weight by about 16 days after hatching, but then may lose some weight before fledging (Hamas, 1981).

Breeding density

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Breeding densities of between two and six pairs per 10 km of river shoreline have been recorded, with density increasing with food availability (Brooks and Davis, 1987; White, 1936).

Food Habits

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Belted kingfishers generally feed on fish that swim near the surface or in shallow water (Salyer and Lagler, 1946; White, 1953; Cornwell, 1963). Davis (pers. comm. in Prose, 1985) believes that these kingfishers generally catch fish only in the upper 12 to 15 cm of the water column. Belted kingfishers capture fish by diving either from a perch overhanging the water or after hovering above the water (Bent, 1940). Fish are swallowed whole, head first, after being beaten on a perch (Bent, 1940). The average length of fish caught in a Michigan study was less than 7.6 cm but ranged from 2.5 to 17.8 cm (Salyer and Lagler, 1946); Davis (1982) found fish caught in Ohio streams to range from 4 to 14 cm in length. Several studies indicate that belted kingfishers usually catch the prey that are most available (White, 1937, 1953; Salyer and Lagler, 1946; Davis, 1982). Diet therefore varies considerably among different water bodies and with season (see examples in Appendix). Although kingfishers feed predominantly on fish, they also sometimes consume large numbers of crayfish (Davis, 1982; Sayler and Lagler, 1946), and in shortages of their preferred foods, have been known to consume crabs, mussels, lizards, frogs, toads, small snakes, turtles, insects, salamanders, newts, young birds, mice, and berries (Bent, 1940). Parents bring surprisingly large fish to their young. White (1953) found that nestlings only 7 to 10 days old were provided fish up to 10 cm long, and nestlings only 2 weeks old were provided with fish up to 13 cm in length. After fledging, young belted kingfishers fed on flying insects for their first 4 days after leaving the nest, crayfish for the next week, and by the 18th day post-fledging, could catch fish (Salyer and Lagler, 1946).

Home range and resources

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During the breeding season, belted kingfishers require suitable nesting sites with adequate nearby fishing. During spring and early summer, both male and female belted kingfishers defend a territory that includes both their nest site and their foraging area (Davis, 1982). By autumn, each bird (including the young of the year) defends an individual feeding territory only (Davis, 1982). The breeding territories (length of waterline protected) can be more than twice as long as the fall and winter feeding territories, and stream territories tend to be longer than those on lakes (Davis, 1982; Salyer and Lagler, 1946). Foraging territory size is inversely related to prey abundance (Davis, 1982).

Molt

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The juvenile plumage is maintained through the winter, and young birds undergo their first prenuptial molt in the spring (between February and April) involving most of the body plumage (Bent, 1940). Adults have a complete postnuptial molt in the fall (August to October) (Bent, 1940).

Belted kingfisher

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The belted kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) is a large, conspicuous water kingfisher, native to North America. All kingfishers were formerly placed in one family, Alcedinidae, but recent research suggests that this should be divided into three subfamilies.

Taxonomy

The first formal description of the belted kingfisher was by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae. He introduced the binomial name Alcedo alcyon.[2] The current genus Megaceryle was erected by the German naturalist Johann Jakob Kaup in 1848.[3] Megaceryle is from the Ancient Greek megas, "great", and the existing genus Ceryle. The specific alcyon is Latin for "kingfisher".[4]

The Megaceryle large green kingfishers were formerly placed in Ceryle with the pied kingfisher, but the latter is closer to the Chloroceryle American green kingfishers. The belted kingfisher's closest living relative is the ringed kingfisher (M. torquata), and these two in all probability originated from an African Megaceryle which colonized the Americas.[5]

Description

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).[6][7] 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. This kingfisher shows reverse sexual dimorphism, with the female more brightly coloured than the male. Both sexes have a slate blue head, large white collar, a large blue band on the breast, and white underparts. The back and wings are slate blue with black feather tips with little white dots. The female features a rufous band across the upper belly that extends down the flanks. Juveniles of this species are similar to adults, but both sexes feature the rufous band on the upper belly. Juvenile males will have a rufous band that is somewhat mottled while the band on juvenile females will be much thinner than that of adult females.[8]

Distribution and habitat

The only kingfisher in the majority of its range, the belted kingfisher's breeding habitat is near inland bodies of waters or coasts across most of North America, within Canada, Alaska and the United States. They migrate from the northern parts of its range to the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, and the West Indies in winter. It is a rare visitor to the northern areas of Colombia, Venezuela, and the Guianas.[9][10][11] During migration it may stray far from land; the species is recorded as an accidental visitor on several Pacific islands, such as Cocos Island, Malpelo Island, Hawaii,[12] the Azores,[13] Clarion Island,[14] and has occurred as an extremely rare vagrant in Ecuador,[13] Greenland, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, and the United Kingdom.[1][15] The southernmost records of M. alcyon are from the Galapagos Archipelago, insular Ecuador, where it occurs as a migrant in small numbers but apparently not every year.[16][17][18]

It leaves northern parts of its range when the water freezes; in warmer areas, it is a permanent resident. A few individuals may linger in the north even in the coldest winters except in the Arctic, if there are remaining open bodies of water.[19]

Ecology and behaviour

Female with prey

The belted kingfisher is often seen perched prominently on trees, posts, or other suitable watchpoints close to water before plunging in headfirst after its fish prey. They also eat amphibians, molluscs, small crustaceans, insects, small mammals, small birds, reptiles and berries.[20]

As the kingfisher flies about its habitat, it frequently emits a characteristic rattling call.[21] Accordingly, a small group of belted kingfishers is known as a rattle, concentration, or kerfuffle.[22][23]

This bird nests in a horizontal tunnel made in a river bank or sand bank and excavated by both parents. The female lays five to eight eggs and both adults share the task of incubating the eggs and feeding the young. During the breeding season, males may also exhibit a strong degree of territoriality in the immediate vicinity of their nest, chasing away conspecifics and predators alike.

The nest of the belted kingfisher is a long tunnel and often slopes uphill. One possible reason for the uphill slope is that, in case of flooding, the chicks will be able to survive in the air pocket formed by the elevated end of the tunnel.[21]

References

  1. ^ a b BirdLife International (2016). "Megaceryle alcyon". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22683623A92992287. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22683623A92992287.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema Naturæ per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis, Volume 1 (in Latin). Vol. v.1 (10th ed.). Holmiae:Laurentii Salvii. p. 115.
  3. ^ Kaup, Johann Jakob (1848). "Die Familie der Eisvögel (Alcedidae)". Verhandlungen des Naturhistorischen Vereins für das Großherzogthum Hessen und Umgebung (in German). 2: 68. OCLC 183221382.
  4. ^ Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 40, 245. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
  5. ^ Moyle, Robert G. (2006). "A molecular phylogeny of kingfishers (Alcedinidae) with insights into early biogeographic history". Auk. 123 (2): 487–499. doi:10.1642/0004-8038(2006)123[487:AMPOKA]2.0.CO;2. hdl:1808/16596. S2CID 84824051.
  6. ^ Cornell Laboratories of Ornithology. "All About Birds: Belted Kingfisher". Archived from the original on 14 June 2008. Retrieved 12 June 2008.
  7. ^ "Belted kingfisher videos, photos and facts – Megaceryle alcyon". ARKive. 2013-03-27. Archived from the original on 2010-12-21. Retrieved 2013-03-31.
  8. ^ Alderfer, Jonathan, ed. (2008). National Geographic Complete Birds of North America. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic. p. 362. ISBN 978-0-7922-4175-1.
  9. ^ Ridway, R. (1914). "The birds of North and Middle America: A descriptive catalogue of the higher groups, genera, species, and subspecies of birds known to occur in North America, from the Arctic lands to the Isthmus of Panama, the West Indies and other islands of the Caribbean Sea, and the Galapagos Archipelago. Part VI". Bulletin of the United States National Museum. 50: 1–902.
  10. ^ Meyer de Schauensee, R. (1949). "The birds of the Republic of Colombia [Accipitridae–Picidae]". Caldasia. 5 (23): 381–644.
  11. ^ Renaudier, A.; Comite d'Homologation de Guyane (2010). "Rare birds in French Guiana in 2005–07" (PDF). Cotinga (32): 95–104.
  12. ^ Henshaw, H.W. (April 1902). "Belted Kingfisher in the Island of Hawaii". Auk. 19 (2): 199. doi:10.2307/4069320. JSTOR 4069320.
  13. ^ a b Cisneros-Heredia, Diego F. (2016). "First documented record of the Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon (Linnaeus, 1758) in mainland Ecuador". PeerJ Preprints. PeerJ. 4 (e1896v1). doi:10.7287/peerj.preprints.1896v1.
  14. ^ Brattstrom, Bayard H.; Howell, Thomas R. (1956). "The Birds of the Revilla Gigedo Islands, Mexico" (PDF). Condor. Cooper Ornithological Society. 58 (2): 107–120. doi:10.2307/1364977. JSTOR 1364977.
  15. ^ Halliday, Josh (2022-01-05). "Rare kingfisher sighting in Preston draws thousands". The Guardian. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  16. ^ Lévêque, R.; Bowman, R.I.; Billeb, S.L. (1966). "Migrants in the Galápagos area". Condor. Cooper Ornithological Society. 68 (1): 81–101. doi:10.2307/1365177. JSTOR 1365177.
  17. ^ Harris, M.P. (1973). "The Galápagos Avifauna". Condor. Cooper Ornithological Society. 75 (3): 265–278. doi:10.2307/1366166. JSTOR 1366166.
  18. ^ Wiedenfeld, D.A. (2006). "Aves, The Galapagos Islands, Ecuador". Check List. 2 (2): 1–27. doi:10.15560/2.2.1.
  19. ^ Henninger, W.F. (1906). "A preliminary list of the birds of Seneca County, Ohio" (PDF). Wilson Bulletin. 18 (2): 47–60.
  20. ^ "Megaceryle alcyon (Belted kingfisher)". Animal Diversity Web.
  21. ^ a b Cornell Laboratories of Ornithology. "All About Birds: Belted Kingfisher". Archived from the original on March 21, 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2009.
  22. ^ "Do You Know the Proper Names for Different Bird Flocks?". The Spruce. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
  23. ^ Parnell, Marc (2022). Birds of Alabama (The Birding Pro's Field Guides). Cleveland, Ohio: Naturalist & Traveler Press. pp. 114–115. ISBN 9781954228252.
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Belted kingfisher: Brief Summary

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The belted kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) is a large, conspicuous water kingfisher, native to North America. All kingfishers were formerly placed in one family, Alcedinidae, but recent research suggests that this should be divided into three subfamilies.

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