Birds of Arlington - Belted Kingfisher

Birds of Arlington

Belted Kingfisher

(Megaceryle alcyon)

Adult Male

Present: Year Round

Visual Identification

Where and When to see them

Visual Identification

Belted Kingfishers are robin sized birds that are a slate blue all over except for their white belly and area leading up to the nape. They also have white flanks and supralorals, and a small line of slate blue going down the nape. The primaries are dark and have white speckling at the base that turns into a large patch of white (visible in flight). The tip of the secondaries and tertials Have white speckling. The tail has white barring throughout. Male kingfishers have one blue line going through the breast. Females have an extra rufous one lower on the body. Juveniles have one rufous/slate blue colored band on the breast with the beginnings of the rufous band lower on the body (on the flanks). All Kingfishers have slate blue crests. They possess very small grey feet and a very heron-like gray bill ending in black.

Voice

Kingfishers emit a harsh rattle, sounding almost like a toy machine gun. They can emit this sound in flight louder than when perching.

Listen carefully, the running water is loud, but listen to the call after he faces you and stops for a bit.

Habitat

Kingfishers are found in marshes, swamps, rivers, and streams (usually large ones). They may also be found near smaller ponds and streams. Open areas with snags seem also preferable to them.

Behavior

Kingfishers are fascinating birds, who (when calling), bob their head and tail up. Kingfishers also dive for their food (fish) in streams from depths of 1 1/2ft or deeper by tucking their wings in and allowing gravity to help them catch fish. Kingfishers fly straight and are solitary except when breeding.

Comparisons

Woodpeckers

Kingfishers may look like woodpeckers when in flight because of the white wing patch, but kingfishers fly strait and don’t dip when flying while woodpeckers do.

Where and When to see them

Kingfishers are uncommon to rare in the spring and fall. They are rare in summer and winter, especially the latter. They have only been found at sparrow pond and the rest of Glencarlyn Park. The best place to see them is in early spring at the stream that splits the Glencarlyn Playground from the parking lot. Standing on the wooden bridge above that gives a great lookout area to see them.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse