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

Tips for Identifying This Species

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.

Notes about Whereabouts

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.

Observations by Park and Season

Location	Spring	Summer	Autumn	Winter
Parc Angrignon	-	x	-	-
Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies	x	-	-	-
Parc des Rapides	-	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.

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