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Megaceryle alcyon
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.
On wire in middle of divided highway. Small trough of water leading to Mud Lake.
Belted Kingfishers spend much of their time perched alone along the edges of streams, lakes, and estuaries, searching for small fish. They also fly quickly up and down rivers and shorelines giving loud rattling calls. They hunt either by plunging directly from a perch, or by hovering over the water, bill downward, before diving after a fish they’ve spotted.
3 Comments
Thanks Ashley and Christy. I have a hard time getting them to stay within camera range. So far I only manage to spot them on a wire and they move every time I stop the car. Wish it had been sunny so I could get good colors. Next time :)
Love these little guys!! Great series, Gator!
I have the hardest time getting clear photos of these guys, love your series :)