Photo © 2005 Jim Jung and licensors. All rights reserved.

Belted Kingfishers

Belted Kingfishers wintering in the Gulf states and as far south as northern South America. As the ice releases its grip on the waters and the temperatures begin to rise the Kingfishers head back north in search of available real estate to attract a mate. Kingfishers are at their most abundant here in late winter, since we're on a major flyway for these unlikely looking birds and they're all being funneled through our area as they head north.

A few will stay - usually along large rivers and creeks - where they will raise a new crop of Kingfishers to carry on their ancestral ways. Most however will continue on north and then fan out looking for real estate and feeding grounds. The first appearance of these birds is one of the sure signs that spring is nearly here.

Offsite Links:

• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Animal Diversity Web
• Interpretive Birding's Belted Kingfisher page

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