Kingfishers (Alcedinidae)

Belted Kingfisher

Megaceryle alcyon. Fish caught by plunge-diving from a perch.

Kingfishers (Alcedinidae)Belted KingfisherMegaceryle alcyon

Scientific name: Megaceryle alcyon
Length: 11–14.2 in
Weight: 4.9–6 oz
Nest: Burrow excavated 3–6 ft into an earthen bank
Entrance hole: Does not use nest boxes
Clutch: 5–8 eggs
Incubation: 22–24 days
Broods: 1–2 per season

Identification

Stocky blue-grey bird with a shaggy crest
Female wears a rusty belly band
Huge dagger bill

Voice

A loud, dry, rattling call over water.

Diet and feeding

Fish caught by plunge-diving from a perch.

What do kingfishers eat? · Best feeder for kingfishers

Belted Kingfishers by state and province

Region	Status	Nesting
Alabama	Year-round resident	February–June
Alaska	Year-round resident	April–June
Alberta	Year-round resident	April–June
Arizona	Year-round resident	February–June
Arkansas	Year-round resident	March–June
British Columbia	Year-round resident	April–June
California	Year-round resident	February–June
Colorado	Year-round resident	March–June
Connecticut	Year-round resident	March–June
Delaware	Year-round resident	March–June
Florida	Year-round resident	February–June
Georgia	Year-round resident	February–June
Idaho	Year-round resident	March–June
Illinois	Year-round resident	March–June
Indiana	Year-round resident	March–June
Iowa	Year-round resident	March–June
Kansas	Year-round resident	March–June
Kentucky	Year-round resident	March–June
Louisiana	Year-round resident	February–June
Maine	Year-round resident	April–June
Manitoba	Year-round resident	April–June
Maryland	Year-round resident	March–June
Massachusetts	Year-round resident	March–June
Michigan	Year-round resident	March–June
Minnesota	Year-round resident	April–June
Mississippi	Year-round resident	February–June
Missouri	Year-round resident	March–June
Montana	Year-round resident	April–June
Nebraska	Year-round resident	March–June
Nevada	Year-round resident	March–June
New Brunswick	Year-round resident	April–June
New Hampshire	Year-round resident	April–June
New Jersey	Year-round resident	March–June
New Mexico	Year-round resident	March–June
New York	Year-round resident	March–June
Newfoundland and Labrador	Year-round resident	April–June
North Carolina	Year-round resident	March–June
North Dakota	Year-round resident	April–June
Northwest Territories	Year-round resident	April–June
Nova Scotia	Year-round resident	April–June
Nunavut	Summer breeder	April–June
Ohio	Year-round resident	March–June
Oklahoma	Year-round resident	March–June
Ontario	Year-round resident	April–June
Oregon	Year-round resident	March–June
Pennsylvania	Year-round resident	March–June
Prince Edward Island	Year-round resident	April–June
Quebec	Year-round resident	April–June
Rhode Island	Year-round resident	March–June
Saskatchewan	Year-round resident	April–June
South Carolina	Year-round resident	February–June
South Dakota	Year-round resident	March–June
Tennessee	Year-round resident	March–June
Texas	Year-round resident	February–June
Utah	Year-round resident	March–June
Vermont	Year-round resident	April–June
Virginia	Year-round resident	March–June
Washington	Year-round resident	March–June
West Virginia	Year-round resident	March–June
Wisconsin	Year-round resident	April–June
Wyoming	Year-round resident	April–June
Yukon	Year-round resident	April–June

Frequently asked

What do kingfishers eat?

Fish caught by plunge-diving from a perch. At feeders: none — needs open water with small fish.

How big is a Belted Kingfisher?

11–14.2 in long and 4.9–6 oz.

Do kingfishers use birdhouses?

No. Burrow excavated 3–6 ft into an earthen bank.

Sources

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.