Natural history: Belted kingfishers

No matter how often I see them, I am always delighted when a belted kingfisher appears in view along Terrell Creek or in the marina near my Birch Bay home. Sometimes I am alerted to their presence by their chattering call, which is loud and sounds prehistoric. Belted kingfishers always seem to have a serious and determined attitude as they seek a meal of small fish. Their large crested head looks a little out of proportion for their body size. Interestingly, the female belted kingfisher is more brightly colored than the male. The opposite is true for many bird species.

Belted kingfishers usually nest in an underground burrow near the water’s edge. Both the male and female typically dig the burrow. When the chicks hatch, they are fed partially digested fish by their parents. 

Kingfishers commonly sit on a favorite observation spot day after day. When I see these individuals repeatedly, I greet them as old friends. (I do realize, however, that they likely see me as a potential threat). Belted kingfishers can be found in most of North America and Central America. I have enjoyed watching them dive into sluggish waterways in the Everglades, and clear streams in southcentral Alaska.

Jonathan Hall resides in Birch Bay. He is a retired biologist who has worked in many regions of the U.S. while employed with the State of New York, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, several environmental consulting firms, and the Tulalip Tribes of Washington.