Photo: mikebaird / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Belted Kingfisher
Megaceryle alcyon
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) — Kingfishers & Rollers of North America.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) is a member of the Alcedinidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 148 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Coraciiformes
- Family Alcedinidae Kingfishers
- Genus Megaceryle
- Species alcyon
Quick facts
- Weight
- 148 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Alcedinidae
- Order
- Coraciiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Male vs female
Sexes differ: both have a slate-blue head, white collar, and a blue breast band, but the female adds a rufous band across the upper belly and flanks that the male lacks (an uncommon case where the female is more colourful).
Juvenile appearance
Juveniles resemble adults but both sexes show a rufous belly band; the juvenile male's band is mottled and the juvenile female's is thinner than the adult female's.
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Belted Kingfisher hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of rivers and riverside habitats, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Belted Kingfisher is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) is a member of the Alcedinidae family, within the order Coraciiformes. Its range spans North America. Its distribution covers NA widespread.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 148 g, with a wing length of about 15.9 cm and a tail of around 9.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 14 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Belted Kingfisher?
The Belted Kingfisher is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 148 g.
Where does the Belted Kingfisher live?
The Belted Kingfisher is found across North America with a range covering NA widespread, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Belted Kingfisher belong to?
The Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) belongs to the Alcedinidae family, in the order Coraciiformes.
What does the Belted Kingfisher eat?
The Belted Kingfisher hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Belted Kingfisher migrate?
The Belted Kingfisher is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Belted Kingfisher endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Belted Kingfisher make?
1 real field recording of the Belted Kingfisher — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Belted Kingfisher's range?
The Belted Kingfisher has a mapped global range of about 14 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
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Guides for this bird
Belted Kingfisher vs Great Blue Heron: How to Tell Them Apart
How to tell a Belted Kingfisher from a Great Blue Heron — size, range, family and status compared side by side, with links to each bird’s full ID guide.