BELTED KINGFISHER

Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon)

Permanent resident.

An inhabitant of rivers, streams, and other bodies of permanent water, kingfishers are one of the characteristic species of Ohio's riparian corridors.

They are most frequently observed perched on overhead telephone wires near bridge crossings or on a dead snag hanging out over the water. From these perches kingfishers watch for potential prey items which consist primarily of small fish and other aquatic organisms.

In addition to supporting a healthy prey community suitable streams for kingfishers must also have areas of eroding or exposed banks where the adults can excavate suitable burrows for nesting. These nesting burrows range from 3.5 to 6 feet in depth.

A resident pair of kingfishers will patrol a large section of stream corridor driving out other kingfishers and announcing their displeasure at the presence of human intruders with their resonating call.

In Ohio kingfishers are generally absent from streams that have been subjected to extensive channel modifications and from small streams bordered by extensive woodlands.