Belted Kingfisher

Belted Kingfisher – Megaceryle alcyon
2018

Their name gives it away, but kingfishers are master fishermen, patrolling the shorelines and diving after fish, amphibians, and crayfish. Typically the male bird of a species is more colorful than the female, but not so amongst the belted kingfishers—the female has a bright coppery breast band against the otherwise white and slate coloration common to both sexes. Though they can often be seen cackling on their perches overlooking water, they actually nest underground. The birds pair up for the mating season and prepare a burrow together in the dirt banks along water. The tunnels slope upward to reduce chance of flooding and can be anywhere from one to eight feet deep.