Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Belted Kingfisher, January 21, 2015

Wild Bird Wednesday and ABC Wednesday
B is for the Belted Kingfisher

The Belted Kingfisher's range covers most of the United States and southern Canada. They can be identified by their bushy crest, dagger-like bill, and a belt of blue-grey feathers across their breasts.  They like to sit on tree limbs that project over water to watch for fish, their favorite food.  They also eat crabs, crayfish, lizards, mice, and insects.


I have identified this Belted Kingfisher as a female because of the chestnut color of her belly.  Males have white bellies.  No nesting in trees for this lady. She will lay five to eight white eggs in a tunnel dug deep into the bank of a stream or river. 

Lee county, Mississippi, USA, January 12, 2015
I was hoping she would turn around, so I could get a front view, but she saw something in the water, dived for it, and flew away.  I am going to keep looking for her to come back to fish in the same spot.  Maybe I'll get a better photo next time.

Have a Wonderful Wednesday!

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19 comments:

  1. Margaret Birding For PleasureJanuary 21, 2015 at 2:17 AM

    That's a good idea to try and see her at the same spot however these are lovely images of this beautiful little bird.

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  2. Sue (this n that)January 21, 2015 at 3:43 AM

    Hi there Lea, thanks for visiting my blog. I'm intrigued by your Belted Kingfisher... I really like that frill on top of the head. Also, the colour is lovely, and what a wide range of food it likes! All really interesting. I learn something new each time :D)

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  3. eileeninmdJanuary 21, 2015 at 5:43 AM

    I love seeing the Kingfishers, they are cool birds.. I think they do like to sit in the same spot a lot.. Good luck! Have a great day!

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  4. _emily_roseJanuary 21, 2015 at 7:22 AM

    Very cool! Happy Wednesday Lea!

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  5. Linda KayJanuary 21, 2015 at 9:05 AM

    That coloring is so unusual and detailed. One of God's masterpieces in nature, Lea

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  6. Reader WilJanuary 21, 2015 at 10:09 AM

    It is a beautiful bird. I know it is related to the Australian kookaburra, only more colourful and its diet is different. I wonder what kind of sounds it makes. The kookaburra makes a kind of laughing sound. In the evening it starts shouting and from all sides in the wood other kookaburras start to answer it.
    I wish you a very colourful week full of birds.
    Wil, ABCW Team.

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  7. HeatherJanuary 21, 2015 at 11:58 AM

    Love his bushy hairdo!

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  8. DeniseinVAJanuary 21, 2015 at 12:27 PM

    Great catches on your Belted Kingfisher Lea, he's a real beauty.

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  9. fredamansJanuary 21, 2015 at 12:31 PM

    Beautiful bird. Interesting head, it reminds me of a Kookaburra, though I see the comment above call this bird a relation.

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  10. UnknownJanuary 21, 2015 at 2:03 PM

    She's very pretty! I hope you'll see her again.

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  11. JoyJanuary 21, 2015 at 2:21 PM

    I like her punk looking 'hair'. What a treat to see a kingfisher, such a pretty thing.

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  12. Su-sieee! MacJanuary 21, 2015 at 5:18 PM

    She's a cutie. I thought your photos did her justice, especially the last one.

    The View from the Top of the Ladder

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  13. Roger Owen GreenJanuary 21, 2015 at 6:46 PM

    pretty bird!

    ROG, ABCW

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  14. TrubesJanuary 22, 2015 at 6:27 AM

    What a Beautiful Bird,
    I love her Bushy feathers on her head,
    Brilliant Photography.

    Best wishes,
    Di ABCW team.

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  15. HELENEJanuary 22, 2015 at 12:07 PM

    Lovely colours and amazing hair piece! Thanks for sharing all the info. Have a great day!

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  16. BumbleVeeJanuary 22, 2015 at 3:02 PM

    They always look to me like they have somebody else's head attached to a too small body... so cute .....

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  17. Donna@Gardens Eye ViewJanuary 22, 2015 at 4:50 PM

    what a fascinating bird

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  18. HannahJanuary 24, 2015 at 5:02 AM

    So cute, what good shots you got of the little bird. It's too bad she didn't turn around, it would have been fun to see her breast colors too. I think I caught just a glimpse of one once by a stream. One visited my sister-in-law's pond to fish!

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  19. doodles n daydreamsJanuary 24, 2015 at 10:36 PM

    Lovely bird and I do like her hair do :)

    Diana
    http://adifferentlenslens365.blogspot.co.nz/2015/01/gum-trees.html

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