Belted Kingfisher
by Elizabeth Winter
Title
Belted Kingfisher
Artist
Elizabeth Winter
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
The breeding distribution of the Belted Kingfisher is limited in some areas by the availability of suitable nesting sites. Human activity, such as road building and digging gravel pits, has created banks where kingfishers can nest and allowed the expansion of the breeding range.
The Belted Kingfisher is one of the few bird species in which the female is more brightly colored than the male. Among the nearly 100 species of kingfishers, the sexes often look alike. In some species the male is more colorful, and in others the female is.
During breeding season the Belted Kingfisher pair defends a territory against other kingfishers. A territory along a stream includes just the stream bed and the vegetation along it, and averages 0.6 mile long. The nest burrow is usually in a dirt bank near water. The tunnel slopes upward from the entrance, perhaps to keep water from entering the nest. Tunnel length ranges from 1 to 8 feet.
As nestlings, Belted Kingfishers have acidic stomachs that help them digest bones, fish scales, and arthropod shells. But by the time they leave the nest, their stomach chemistry apparently changes, and they begin regurgitating pellets which accumulate on the ground around fishing and roosting perches. Scientists can dissect these pellets to learn about the kingfisher’s diet without harming or even observing any wild birds.
Uploaded
August 26th, 2017
Statistics
Viewed 207 Times - Last Visitor from Ottawa, ON - Canada on 04/18/2024 at 3:44 AM
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Comments (24)
John Bartelt
Outstanding photography, Elizabeth! (l/f) I didn't know that we had any in our area until I saw one hovering, while on my daily dog-walk, and then dive into the pond. It was astonishing to watch.
Skip Willits
Good for you. These guys drive me nuts and still haven't a good image. Wonderful work here Elizabeth.
Asbed Iskedjian
Excellent photography, and diagonally framing with the branch Elizabeth. Likes + Favorites.
John M Bailey
Congratulations on your feature in the Fine Art America Group "Images That Excite You!"