“The Belted Kingfisher is quite the fisher! Ussually setting on an over hanging branch above water watching for fish and then diving head first onto the water to catch it. It is quite an awsome sight to see them hunt. You can find this one at Shelby Park" ScientificName - Megaceryle alcyon RANGE - North & Central America & Northern South America LIFESPAN - 2to 4 years
DIET - Fish, frogs, insects, small mammals, lizards & berries. WEIGHT - 4.5 to 6 ounces LENGTH - 11 to 14 inches WINGSPAN - 19 to 23 inches
STATUS - Declining due to loss of habitat. PROTECTION - U.S. Migratory Bird Act
The Belted Kingfisher is a medium sized, noisy bird found near the banks of many lakes, rivers & ponds in Middle Tennessee. In the winter Kingfishers of northern inland areas where the water freezes, migrate south. And southern Kingfishers are permanent residents. Kingfisher plumage is bluish-grey with white markings, a shaggy crest and a white collar at the neck. Females have a rusty band along the sides of the belly, making this one of the less common cases where the female is more colorful than the male. Kingfishers nest in a horizontal tunnel made in river banks or sand banks. Both parents excavate the tunnel and then 5 to 8 eggs are laid. Both male & female incubate the eggs and feed the young. The number of these birds appears to have declined, possibly as a result of habitat loss.
