Belted kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)
E570271
The belted kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) is a stocky, crested North American bird known for its loud rattling call and habit of diving headfirst into water to catch fish.
Observed surface forms (1)
| Surface form | Occurrences |
|---|---|
| Belted kingfisher | 0 |
Statements (72)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
bird
ⓘ
kingfisher ⓘ species ⓘ |
| activityPattern | diurnal ⓘ |
| averageMass | 140–170 g ⓘ |
| billType | long heavy pointed bill ⓘ |
| binomialAuthority | Linnaeus, 1758 ⓘ |
| bodyLength | 28–35 cm ⓘ |
| breedsIn |
Alaska
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Canada NERFINISHED ⓘ Newfoundland NERFINISHED ⓘ United States NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| class | Aves ⓘ |
| clutchSize | 5–8 eggs ⓘ |
| commonName | belted kingfisher ⓘ |
| conservationThreat |
habitat loss along waterways
ⓘ
water pollution ⓘ |
| crest | shaggy crest on head ⓘ |
| diet |
amphibians
ⓘ
crustaceans ⓘ fish ⓘ insects ⓘ small vertebrates ⓘ |
| distribution | near freshwater and coastal waters across North America ⓘ |
| eggColor | white ⓘ |
| family | Alcedinidae NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| flightStyle | rapid direct flight with stiff wingbeats ⓘ |
| foragingBehavior |
dives headfirst into water to catch prey
ⓘ
hunts from perches over water ⓘ |
| genus | Megaceryle NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| habitat |
coastal shorelines
ⓘ
estuaries ⓘ lakes ⓘ ponds ⓘ rivers ⓘ |
| incubation | both sexes incubate eggs ⓘ |
| IUCNStatus | Least Concern ⓘ |
| IUCNStatusSystem | IUCN 3.1 ⓘ |
| kingdom | Animalia ⓘ |
| lifespanWild | about 6–14 years maximum recorded ⓘ |
| migratoryBehavior | partial migrant ⓘ |
| monogamy | socially monogamous during breeding season ⓘ |
| nativeTo |
Canada
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Mexico NERFINISHED ⓘ North America ⓘ United States NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| nestSite |
sandbank
ⓘ
vertical riverbank ⓘ |
| nestType | burrow in earthen bank ⓘ |
| order | Coraciiformes NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| parentalCare | both parents feed young ⓘ |
| perchingPreference | exposed branches or posts over water ⓘ |
| phylum | Chordata ⓘ |
| plumageColor |
blue breast band in both sexes
ⓘ
blue-gray upperparts ⓘ chestnut belly band in females ⓘ white underparts ⓘ |
| primaryDiet | fish ⓘ |
| rangeExpansion |
occasionally vagrant to Hawaii
ⓘ
occasionally vagrant to western Europe ⓘ |
| recognizedBy |
blue-gray coloration with breast band
ⓘ
distinct rattling call ⓘ large head and crest ⓘ |
| scientificName | Megaceryle alcyon NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| sexualDimorphism | female more brightly colored than male ⓘ |
| taxonRank | species ⓘ |
| territorialBehavior | defends feeding and nesting territories ⓘ |
| vocalization | loud rattling call ⓘ |
| wingspan | 48–58 cm ⓘ |
| wintersIn |
Caribbean
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Central America NERFINISHED ⓘ southern United States ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.