Florida Wikitravel

Belted Kingfisher Instant ID bird up to 13 inches long with a wingspan of 20 inches Head, back and "belt" on chest are bill and short tail Prominent white collar and a shaggy crest Females have a rust colored horseshoe shape on bellies. With its top-heavy physique, energetic flight, and piercing rattle, the Belted Kingfisher seems to have an air of self-importance as it patrols up and down rivers and shorelines. It nests in burrows along earthen banks and feeds almost entirely on aquatic prey, diving to catch fish and crayfish with its heavy, straight bill. These ragged-crested birds are a powdery blue-gray; males have one.

The Belted Kingfisher is often first noticed by its wild rattling call as it flies over rivers or lakes. It may be seen perched on a high snag, or hovering on rapidly beating wings, then plunging headfirst into the water to grab a fish. Found almost throughout North America at one season or another, it is the only member of its family to be seen in most areas north of Mexico.. Learn to identify a belted kingfisher. See what the male and female look like, find out what the bird eats, and hear its call.