Belted Kingfisher |
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Description
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13". Pigeon-sized. Bushy crest; dagger-like bill; blue-gray above, white below. Male has blue-gray breast band; female similar but also has chestnut belly band. |
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Voice
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Loud, penetrating rattle, given on the wing and when perched |
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Habitat
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Rivers, lakes, and saltwater
estuaries.
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Nesting
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5-8 white eggs in an unlined chamber at the end of a tunnel
up to 8' long, dug in a sand or gravel bank.
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Other
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Kingfishers often hover
like terns over water where a fish is visible, then dive vertically for
the prey. In addition, they may eat crabs, crayfish, salamanders, lizards,
mice, and insects. Kingfishers often patrol a regular beat along a stream
or lakeshore, stopping at favorite exposed perches along they way.
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