Belted Kingfisher

Megaceryle alcyon

Description:

This is the first cooperative kingfisher I have had out of the dozens I have seen, just a shame the weather wasn't better for the photos! This girl has orange on the belly that a male lacks. Stocky body with a long bill, and they are very vocal birds.

Habitat:

Sitting on a telephone wire over the bay at the boat docks in Petersburg, Alaska

Species ID Suggestions

12 Comments

robert emond 6 years ago

Beautiful female indeed. Thanks for sharing a gorgeous series

Jim Nelson 8 years ago

I love these guys...and like everyone else I am still trying to get a decent photo. I have seen them everywhere in the Mojave and Great Basin deserts, where there is water.

AshleyT 8 years ago

Thanks! I have a Canon 7D mk ii with the 400mm f5.6 lens

AshleyL 8 years ago

Great pics! Belted kingfishers are never cooperative for me either. What kind of camera do you use for these pics?

AshleyT 8 years ago

Thanks guys! Such vocal little birds

James McNair 8 years ago

Awesome birds and great shots Ashley

DrNamgyalT.Sherpa 8 years ago

Ashley I lked all photos of this cute bird, but last one the most!

armadeus.4 8 years ago

True hey! Nothing like a challenge :D

Desmond.E.S.O 8 years ago

Me too iv'e only seen one once, before and the photos that I got were terrible... your welcome!

AshleyT 8 years ago

I did indeed, Desmond. Thanks.

Thanks armadeus! These birds are such jerks and always fly away when you point a camera at them haha. It took me years to get decent photos like these!

armadeus.4 8 years ago

Fantastic images Ashley! The colours are beautifully offset by the sky! I saw my first one earlier this year but unfortunately I was unable to photograph it. Thank you for sharing this lovely bird :)