Belted Kingfisher

A couple of days ago I was walking along a wooded river front when I saw what appeared to be a fairly large bird flying by. I could just make it out through the bare trees and pines before it disappeared. My presence seemed to have alarmed it as it gave off a sharp rattle by which I recognized it as a Belted Kingfisher (see snippet below)


They usually don't let you get very close. I took these photos of a female from a blind in the Audubon Refuge on Cape Cod:

              Belted Kingfisher by Robin Carter, SC xeno-canto XC1363 (cc)

The bird will usually sit quietly watchful on a perch by a stream or pond, then rise suddenly, hover briefly and plunge-dive into the water to retrieve a small fish or similar prey.

If you want to know more about Belted Kingfishers, how they dig a deep burrow in a steep bank on the water, excavate a chamber for their nest.... how they eventually coax their young with fish in their bills out for the first time .... here is a terrific article.

This is my contribution to this week's World Bird Wednesday hosted by Springman of The Pine River Review. It's featuring birding posts from around the world, well worth a visit!

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