Washington · Year-round resident

Belted Kingfishers in Washington

When kingfishers are present in Washington, when they nest, which native Washington plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4a–9a yard.

Kingfishers (Alcedinidae)Belted KingfisherMegaceryle alcyon

Status in Washington: Year-round resident
Nesting window: March–June
Broods: 1–2 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 4a–9a

When to expect kingfishers in Washington

Belted Kingfishers live in Washington all year. Mild, wet winters on the Puget Sound; cold winters in the east. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them.

Marine west-coast climate west of the Cascades, semi-arid shrub-steppe to the east.

Nesting in Washington

Across Washington, kingfishers typically nest from March–June. Plan around that window: February for setup, June for clean-out.

Dry, sunny summers west of the Cascades; hot in the Columbia Basin.

Belted Kingfishers don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, chokecherry, ponderosa pine for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.

Native Washington plants that attract kingfishers

Of the regional native plants we track for Washington, these 8 provide food or cover kingfishers use:

Tall goldenrod

Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Paper birch

Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Ponderosa pine

Pinus ponderosa · Tree

Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.

Rabbitbrush

Ericameria nauseosa · Shrub

Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.

Oregon white oak

Quercus garryana · Tree

Acorns and a rich insect community in the Pacific Northwest.

Douglas fir

Pseudotsuga menziesii · Tree

Seed for crossbills, siskins and chickadees.

Willow (Bebb)

Salix bebbiana · Shrub

Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.

Feeding kingfishers through the Washington year

Top foods: None — needs open water with small fish.
In Washington's winter: Mild, wet winters on the Puget Sound; cold winters in the east.

Full diet breakdown for kingfishers · Best feeder for kingfishers

Frequently asked

Are kingfishers in Washington year-round?

Yes. Belted Kingfishers are year-round residents in Washington.

When do kingfishers nest in Washington?

Nesting in Washington typically runs March–June, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 5–8 eggs, incubated for 22–24 days.

What native plants attract kingfishers in Washington?

Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Chokecherry, Ponderosa pine, Rabbitbrush, Oregon white oak, Douglas fir, Willow (Bebb) are native plants in Washington that provide food or cover for kingfishers.

Other backyard birds in Washington

Black-capped Chickadee Purple Martin Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren House Finch Purple Finch Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Red-winged Blackbird Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Common Redpoll Gray Catbird Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Steller's Jay Black-billed Magpie Canada Jay Mountain Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Pygmy Nuthatch Anna's Hummingbird Black-chinned Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird Lesser Goldfinch Cassin's Finch Spotted Towhee California Quail Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe Bewick's Wren White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Varied Thrush Violet-green Swallow Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Bullock's Oriole Eurasian Collared-Dove American Crow Common Raven Cooper's Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Wood Duck Wild Turkey Mallard Great Blue Heron Brown-headed Cowbird Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Winter Wren Pine Grosbeak Red Crossbill Gray Catbird Western Tanager Lark Sparrow Green-tailed Towhee Clark's Nutcracker Western Screech-Owl Hooded Merganser Band-tailed Pigeon Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat Yellow-breasted Chat Orange-crowned Warbler Warbling Vireo Western Kingbird Ash-throated Flycatcher Cliff Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Green Heron Great Egret Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Barn Owl Lewis's Woodpecker Black-backed Woodpecker White-headed Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Snow Bunting Lapland Longspur Horned Lark Common Redpoll Bohemian Waxwing Bobolink Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Rock Pigeon

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.