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Belted Kingfisher
During this time, a mated pair will work together as a team during nest constuction, incubation, and raising their young. DescriptionMeasuring 11 to 14 inches in length. Blue-gray above and onNoticeable crested head. The male has a blue-gray band across the breast. The female bird has this band plus, a second rust colored band across the belly. Nesting HabitsThese birds begin building their nest by taking turns digging a tunnel into an earthen bank near their fishing territory.Using their bills to dig a tunnel and their feet to push dirt and debris out behind them. The tunnel will be 3 to 7 feet long when completed and the eggs will be laid in total darkness. Both male and female Kingfisher will share in the incubation. Incubation will last for 24 days. The young will be born without feathers and be brooded by the female, while the male feeds them. Once the chicks begin to get feathers, both male and female will feed them. The young will leave the nest about 33 to 38 days after hatching. Within 1 - 2 weeks the young will be able to feed themselves and will begin looking for their own territories. Feeding HabitsBelted Kingfishers dive head first in pursuit of fish. Their diet consist mostly of small fish. Other food includes tadpoles, salamanders, frogs, and some insects.These birds teach their young to fish by dropping dead prey into the water for the young to retrieve. HabitatThe territorial habitat of these birds are wetlands, rivers, lakes and ponds.Since they nest in eroding banks, controlled streams may deprive them of nesting sites. Breeding bird survey data of the Belted Kingfisher show an average population decline of almost 2 percent annually. Back to List of Birds
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