Belted Kingfisher

"I am the king -- of fishers!"  Length to 14-3/4 in., wingspread to 23 in., tail to 2-14 in.  Weight to 6 oz..  Female with a broad, cinnamon-reddish band across lower breast, in addition to bluish band of male.

Breeds from Alaska to Newfoundland and south to southern limits of United States.  No nest.  Eggs laid at end of burrow which is 4 in. across, from 3 to 15 ft long with enlarged room at end.  Eggs 5 to 14.  Incubation for 23-24 days.  One brood a year in the North, possibly two in the South.

Food, chiefly fish, but known also to include mice, frogs, lizards, insects, berries, newts, and crayfish.  Spotted by S. Waggoner 5-30-2004.

Megaceryle alcyon