Belted Kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon

Belted Kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon. Photograph taken within a residential community in Alamos, Sonora, December 2017. Photograph and identification courtesy of David F Smith, Alamos, Sonora.

Belted Kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon. Photograph taken within the Everglades National Park, South Florida, October 2022. Photograph and identification courtesy of Faith Hubsch, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Background and Identification

The Belted Kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon, is a member of the Alcedinidae Family of Kingfishers. They are striking and easily recognizable birds, known for their distinctive plumage and loud, rattling call. They are small in stature. They primarily consume fish and limited amounts of amphibians, young birds, crustaceans, insects, small mammals, reptiles, and seasonal berries. In Mexico, they are commonly known as Martín Pescador Franjeado.

In the family of kingfishers, the Belted Kingfisher is considered medium size. They are 28 cm (11 inches) to 35 cm (14 inches) long and weigh between 140 g (4.9 oz) and 170 g (6.0 oz). They have large heads with shaggy crests and long, thick bills adapted for catching fish. Both males and females have greyish-blue upperparts and white underparts. Males have a single blue band of color across their chest, while females have an additional rust-colored band below the blue one. Juvenile individuals can be distinguished by their darker crest, more white on the wing coverts, and white spots on the central pair of rectrices. Adult females also have white spots on the central pair of rectrices. Rectrices are flight feathers present on the tail of birds. This species’ striking plumage and distinctive silhouette make it a favorite among birdwatchers.

Habitat and Geographical Range

The Belted Kingfisher is a highly adaptable species found throughout North America. They prefer coastal swamps, brackish lagoons, and along reservoirs and rivers’ shores in areas with good perches for detecting prey. Due to their hunting style, this species needs clear, slow-moving, or still water to effectively dive for prey (fish or other aquatic invertebrates). Belted Kingfishers require water for a second reason, they nest in sandy banks along rivers and lakes. They dig burrows in the sand or dirt to lay their eggs.

Geographically, the Belted Kingfisher’s range extends from Alaska and Canada through the United States and into Central America, including Mexico. Belted Kingfishers are a migratory bird, breeding at more northern latitudes and wintering south, sometimes as far south as northern South America. They are found throughout Mexico at elevations below 2,500 m (8,200 feet).

Common Misidentifications

All species in the kingfisher family have a similar body shape and behavior, however, the Belted Kingfisher’s distinct coloration and size help to set it apart. There are a few kingfisher species that are commonly misidentified as the Belted Kingfisher, including the Green Kingfisher, Chloroceryle americana, and the Ringed Kingfisher, Megaceryle torquata. Both of these species have an overlapping geographical range with the Belted Kingfisher. The Green Kingfisher is smaller than the Belted Kingfisher and has green upperparts with a white belly and chest band. The Ringed Kingfisher is larger than the Belted Kingfisher and both sexes have a rust-colored underbelly (compared to only the females of Belted Kingfishers).

Conservation Status

From a conservation perspective, the Belted Kingfisher is currently considered to be of Least Concern with stable, widely distributed populations. Belted Kingfishers benefit from a wide geographical range and a variety of suitable habitats.