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Project Noah Nature School
Ceryle alcyon
Belted Kingfishers are large birds found along the shores of rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, and marshes. They are slightly larger than a pigeon, and can grow to be just over a foot in size. They are bluish-gray above, with a white belly and a white ring around the neck. Males have a bluish-gray breast band and females have a chestnut-colored belly band to go along with the breast band.Kingfishers have a a large crest. Their bill is very long a sharp. The heads of these birds almost look to big for the rest of their body.
Belted Kingfishers are usually seen flying along shorelines, looking for food. They are territorial and have favorite perches where they watch for fish. Kingfishers eat mostly fish, as well as crayfish, salamanders, lizards, mice, insects, mollusks, and on occasion berries.
Belted Kingfishers generally hover over the water looking for small fish. They then dive straight down into the water to grab the fish. Once they have taken a fish, which is generally small, they take it back to a perch on a tree. They will then bang the fish on the branch to stun it, throw it up into the air, and swallow it whole. It is a sight, I someday hope to be able to witness and photograph.
Spotted on Jun 24, 2012
Submitted on Jun 25, 2012
25 Comments (1–25)
Beautiful pic willie !! thanks for sharing
You can consider to join & add this kingfisher to kingfishers of the world mission
http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/2093......
Wonderful shot!
I love the difference in the crest between the 3 pictures!
Love this picture!!!
I love the action shot!
Gorgeous Belted Kingfisher images, willie! Bravo!!
wow
Spectacular shot willie..!
amazing flight shot, love the look in the birds eyes
Gorgeous photos!
I've always been fascinated by this bird. Great series!
Thanks Diana.
Gracias tan mucho, Harsuame.
Fantásticos disparos excelente
Beautiful shots. Thank for writing to me. They should just have a reply button on the form that sends comments so I don't have to hunt and peck when to reply from here and not email.
Thanks Atul, I will say they are a tough bird to get a good photo of.
Absolutely wonderful spotting Willie ! one of my favorite birds .
Thank you SatyenMehta, I was thrilled to be able to finally get some photos of this bird, I have seen many times but never at close enough range to get a photo.
Lovely spotting!
Thanks for the comments, Jolly Ibañez, ASH247, ceherzog, Ava T-B, and Emma.............. ceherzog, I was amazed I made a flight capture, it was my intent to try, but they fly so fast, I was not sure I could pull it off.
Thanks Emma, yes you are correct all three pictures in this series are of female belted kingfishers
Stunning picture of a female Belted King Fisher.
Stunning series, and interesting information and references. Thanks for this spotting.
On the wing.......awesome!
I agree a beautiful bird in a beautiful picture! Great job
Beautiful spotting.