Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)
The Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) is a striking bird known for its distinctive blue-gray plumage and impressive fishing skills. Found along the shores of lakes and rivers, this mid-sized bird is easily recognized by its loud, rattling call and dramatic high-speed dives into the water to catch fish.
| 🇫🇷 | Martin-pêcheur d'Amérique |
| 🇩🇪 | Gürtelfischer |
| 🇲🇽 | Martín gigante norteamericano |
| Taxonomy | |
| Order | Coraciiformes |
| Family | Alcedinidae |
How to Identify
To identify the Belted Kingfisher, observe its long and robust bill. The plumage is grey in females and nearly blue in males on the back, with a white front. Females are distinguished by an additional brown band. Their fishing strategy involves perching on a branch and executing high-speed dives to catch fish, which is a distinctive behavior.
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Characteristics
| Length | 28-35cm |
| Weight | 113-178g |
| Wingspan | 48-58cm |
| Clutch Size | 5-8 eggs |
| Incubation | 22-24 days |
| Fledging | 23-29 days |
| Sexual Maturity | 1 year |
| Source | Wikipedia |
Where and When to Spot
I have observed Belted Kingfishers in Park Angrignon and Rapids Park Lachine. Although they are frequently seen in urban parks, these birds remain shy and will often move to a different branch with an intense chatter if humans approach too closely.
Observation Records by Park and Season
| Location | Spring | Summer | Autumn | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parc Angrignon | - | x | - | - |
| Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies | x | - | - | - |
| Parc des Rapides, Lachine | - | x | x | - |
"x" indicates the species was observed, while "-" indicates no observation. Lack of observation doesn't necessarily imply that the species is absent. Data is derived from our park visit journals.