Belted Kingfisher
The belted Kingfisher’s habitat is commonly on ponds, lakes, rivers and marshes throughout much of North America. They can be distinguished by their large head, distinctive crest and big bill tapering to a point. They have small feet and short legs. The adult male has grayish-blue upper parts with a wide white collar around the neck, a white spot in front of eye, white underparts and a broad blue band across breast. The female is unusual in that she is the more colorful of the sexes with and additional rusty band across the belly. They are not often seen away from water or from perching places such as trees, posts and telephone wires from which they can be seen diving from the air for fish. Their diet also consists of frogs, tadpoles, salamanders and insects.
They nest in total darkness at the end of a 3 to 7 foot tunnel that they have excavated into the earthen riverbank. They sometimes use the same burrow in successive years. Usually 5 to 8 white eggs are laid on the bare soil in the tunnel. The incubation period is 24 days. Both male and female share in the incubating chores and spend their free time fishing. The young leave the nest after 33 days or so.
