Belted Kingfisher

Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) is in the Kingfishers family (Alcedinidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 63,637 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in October.

Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.

When to photograph Belted Kingfisher: observations by month (U.S.)

About Belted Kingfisher

The belted kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) is a large, conspicuous water kingfisher, the only member of that group commonly found in the northern United States and Canada. It is depicted on the 1986 series Canadian $5 note. All kingfishers were formerly placed in one family, Alcedinidae, but recent research suggests that this should be divided into three subfamilies.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.

Belted Kingfisher by state

Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.

Photography tips

• Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
• Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
• Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
• Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.

FAQ