Belted Kingfisher

Megaceryle alcyon

If you hear a rapid-fire rattling call near the shores of a river or lake, chances are good this bird is nearby. With a large sturdy beak used for catching fish, and a spiky crest that stands up when excited, the kingfisher has a distinctive top-heavy silhouette. Named for the gray-blue band around the chest, the female has a second rusty brown belt across the belly. This bird has an interesting strategy when breeding. Rather than building a nest in a tree, it burrows into the earth horizontally, selecting a spot along a steep ditch or bank usually near a body of water. The tunnel is around three to six feet deep and leads to a chamber where the eggs are laid. Both the male and the female actively participate in building the nest, in addition to incubating the eggs and feeding the hatchlings.