Kingfisher
Matthew Thomayer
Kingfisher Trivia
• How many species of Kingfishers are found in the United
States?
• Which Kingfisher can be found in this part of the
country?
• How many people have actually seen a kingfisher in this
area?
Belted Kingfisher
• Physical Description:
13" (33 cm). A pigeon-
sized bird, blue-gray
above, white below, with
bushy crest, dagger-like
bill. Male has blue-gray
breast band; female
similar, but also has
chestnut belly band.
Interesting Facts
• The Belted Kingfisher is one of the few bird species in which the female is more brightly colored
than the male.
• Human activity, such as road building and digging gravel pits, has created banks where
kingfishers can nest and allowed the expansion of the breeding range.
• They may hover and plunge vertically from heights of up to 50 feet into the water, occasionally
disappearing completely for a few seconds. They catch most fish within two feet of the surface.
To stop the dive, they spread their wings under water.
Belted Kingfisher Continued
• Range:
Breeds from Alaska eastward across southern Canada and south throughout most of United States. Winters on
Pacific Coast north to southeastern Alaska, and throughout South north to Great Lakes and along Atlantic Coast to
New England.
• Nesting:
The belted kingfisher prefers its breeding habitat to be wetland-open water. They burrow a tunnel up to 8’ long in
a sand of gravel bank. The belted kingfisher has a clutch of 5-8 white eggs and incubates them for 23 to 24 days.
The belted kingfisher can only have one clutch a year.
• Habitat:
The belted kingfisher is commonly found along rivers, ponds, lakes, and bays.
Diet
• While searching for fish, the Belted
Kingfisher will perch on a limb over a river
or lake. On sighting a fish it flies from its
post and hover over the water before
plunging after its prey.
• In addition, it may eat crabs, crayfish,
salamanders, lizards, mice, and insects.
• Often a kingfisher patrols a regular section
along a stream or lakeshore, stopping at
favorite exposed perches along the way.
Ringed Kingfisher
• Physical Description:
13" (33 cm). Pigeon-sized. Similar to Belted
Kingfisher but larger, and with more
chestnut on belly. Bushy crest and large,
dagger-shaped bill. Blue-gray above,
chestnut below with white collar. Female
similar, but has gray band across upper
breast.
• Range:
Resident from extreme southern Texas to
southern South America.
Ringed Kingfisher (con’t)
• The Ringed Kingfisher is the largest of the
three species of kingfishers in the United
States, where it is found only on the lower
Rio Grande in Texas.
• Its habits are like those of the Belted
Kingfisher (Tree-lined rivers, streams, and
lakes).
• The Ringed Kingfisher lays a clutch of 2 to 6
eggs, and will incubate them for about 34
days.
Green Kingfisher
• Description:
8" (20 cm). Starling-sized. Dark glossy green
above, white below; male has broad rufous
breast band, female has green breast band.
Both sexes have white collar.
• Range:
Resident from extreme southern Texas
south into tropics. Straggles to southern
Arizona and western Texas. Most common
along lower Rio Grande Valley.
• Habitat:
Near small shady streams, rivers, ponds and
lakes with heavy vegetation along the shore.
Usually seen perching on branch or rock just
above water's surface.
Green Kingfisher (con’t)
• Reproduction:
The Green Kingfisher produces a clutch from 3 to 6 eggs and will incubate them for 22 to 26
days. The tunnel for the eggs is dug in only sandy banks and is only 2 to 3 feet long.
• Diet:
Feed primarily on fish, but insects are also consumed.
• Interesting Facts:
The Green Kingfisher is the smallest of the three species.
Also the Green Kingfisher rarely hovers while searching for food.
The entrance to the tunnel is hidden, unlike the other two kingfishers.
Vocalizations & Videos
• Belted Kingfisher
• Ringed Kingfisher
• Green Kingfisher
• Belted Kingfisher Video
Other Kingfishers
• Pigmy Kingfisher
• Pygmy Kingfisher • Greyhooded Kingfisher
• Halfcollared Kingfisher
Any Questions???
Special Thanks
• Enature.com
• Yahoo
• Google
• EKU Libraries