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Belted Kingfisher

Birds

The belted kingfisher is a large, conspicuous water kingfisher native to North America. It is the only kingfisher found across most of its range, breeding near inland waters and coasts throughout Canada and the United States, including Alaska, and migrating south to the southern United States, Mexico, Central America and the West Indies for the winter.

Facts
Classification
Diet
Piscivore 2
System (Realm)
Terrestrial 3
System (Realm)
Freshwater 3
System (Realm)
Marine 3
Relationship to People
Agricultural or Structural Pest 4
Living or Extinct
Yes 1
Derived from this species' own Conservation Status: this atlas's IUCN category list has no Extinct value, so a set conservation-status is itself evidence of living status.
Identification
Distinguishing Appearance
Both sexes have a slate blue head, large white collar, large blue band on the breast, and white underparts, and this species has a large head with a shaggy crest 1
Comparison
NatureServe Rank
G5 Secure 5
CITES Appendix
Not Listed 4
Scientific Name
Megaceryle alcyon 1
Conservation Status
Least Concern 1
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Coraciiformes, Taxa
Source Catalogue of Life

In Biome

Lake, Biomes
Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Megaceryle alcyon
River, Biomes
Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Megaceryle alcyon

In Ecosystem

Galapagos, Ecosystems
Source Belted kingfisher, Wikipedia
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Australia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Colombia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Ecuador

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

North America

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Norway

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

South America

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

United States

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Venezuela

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Sources
1. Belted kingfisher, Wikipedia
  • Taxobox, scientific name field
    Megaceryle alcyon
  • Infobox: status
    LC
  • Description section
    These features are common in many kingfisher species. Both sexes have a slate blue head, large white collar, large blue band on the breast, and white underparts.
  • In Ecosystem: Galapagos, Distribution and habitat
    The southernmost records of M. alcyon are from the Galapagos Archipelago, insular Ecuador, where it occurs as a migrant in small numbers but apparently not every year.
View the Source
2. EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014)
3. GBIF Species API
GBIF Species APIView the Source
4. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Megaceryle alcyon
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
  • Conservation Status: CITES
    CITES No special status
  • Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
    Belted kingfishers sometimes prey on fingerlings of fish hatcheries.
  • In Biome: Lake, Habitat Regions, biome: lakes and ponds
    lakes and ponds
  • In Biome: River, Habitat Regions, biome: rivers and streams
    rivers and streams
View the Source
5. NatureServe Explorer: Megaceryle alcyon
NatureServe ExplorerGlobal rank (roundedGRank)
Quote, Global rank (roundedGRank)
"roundedGRank": "G5"
View the Source
Wikidata: Belted Kingfisher
Wikidata Q736052, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
Catalogue of Life
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of LifeChild Taxon Of: CoraciiformesView the Source
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