Belted Kingfisher

Ceryle alcyon

This species requires both permanent water to support accessible prey (primarily small fish and crayfish) and nearby earthen banks in which to excavate nesting burrows (Hamas 1994). Belted Kingfishers often select areas with stream-side snags that serve as hunting and roosting perches. Most birders quickly learn the kingfisher's rattling call, and these birds are easily sighted as they fly along streams or hover, then plunge-dive for fish.

Code Frequency

Because they are conspicuous and well-known, Belted Kingfishers are likely to be found and identified wherever they occur. Thus, gaps on the map likely accurately reflect where the species was absent. Although nesting burrows are easily recognized, Atlasers may have had difficulty finding them because Belted Kingfishers often forage a few hundred meters up or down streams from nest sites. Additionally, burrow entrances usually face the stream and may be difficult to see unless searching from a boat. Thus, many of the blocks where possible or probable breeding evidence was recorded were likely breeding areas.

Average Number of Birds / 100 stops

Distribution

Although essentially breeding statewide, kingfishers had a few intriguing gaps in distribution. There was a scarcity of blocks in which Kingfishers were recorded in north central Missouri, primarily in Chariton, Macon and Putnam counties. There were also fewer blocks where kingfishers were recorded in portions of the Osage Plains and the Mississippi Lowlands. The latter region apparently lacks appropriate nesting habitat.

Abundance

Belted Kingfishers were most abundant in the Ozark Border Natural Division. None were recorded on survey routes in the Big Rivers and Mississippi Lowlands natural divisions.

Phenology

A kingfisher was observed entering a nest site on April 26. The late observation of a nest containing young provides evidence that this species has a protracted breeding season. Belted Kingfishers have been reported to have only one brood per season (Harrison 1975).

Breeding Evidence

Reported in 567 (47.0%) of 1,207 blocks

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