Belted Kingfisher (female)

Description:

Belted Kingfishers are stocky, large-headed birds with a shaggy crest on the top and back of the head and a straight, thick, pointed bill. Their legs are short and their tails are medium length and square-tipped. These kingfishers are powder blue above with fine, white spotting on the wings and tail. The underparts are white with a broad, blue breast band. Females also have a broad rusty band on their bellies. Juveniles show irregular rusty spotting in the breast band.

Habitat:

saltwater lagoon off San Francisco Bay

Notes:

The female can be identified by the broad reddish band across the belly. This is absent in the males.