Found in North and Central America
Hear Their Calls
The Belted Kingfisher is known for its legendary mohawk, superior fishing skills, and quick, rattling call. Kingfishers lead the quiet, solitary life of a fisherman. They wait on a perch above rivers and lakes to get a good look at their aquatic prey (like small fish, crayfish, and insects), then swiftly swoop down and make the catch.
Belted Kingfishers built their nests in burrows along the shoreline — both parents help dig a three- to six-foot-long tunnel that slopes upward (presumably to keep out water) with a nest at the very end.
Fun fact: Belted Kingfishers are a rare bird species in which the female is more brightly colored than the male. Males have a white chest and telltale collar with navy-gray feathers, while females have some rusty coloring along their chests.
|