Belted Kingfisher

     This evening we visited Blind Pass Beach Park in Englewood, also known as Middle Beach.  It's a featured site along the Great Florida Birding Trail.  On the beach side you'll find Brown Pelicans and various Gulls.  In late fall and winter, many sandpiper and plover species can be found.  On the bay side (Lemon Bay), you can find waders such as Herons and Egrets at low tide.  Tonight on the bay side, we saw four Kingfishers in the glare of the setting sun, not the best lighting conditions for photos.  

     There are over 90 species of Kingfishers worldwide.  All have large heads, long sharp pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails. Most species have bright plumage with little differences between the sexes.
     Only three species can be seen in the U.S.  They are the Ringed, Green and Belted Kingfishers.  Ringed and Green Kingfishers are limited to the southern tip of Texas.  The Belted Kingfisher is found throughout North America.
     The Belted Kingfisher is one of the few bird species in which the female is more brightly colored than the male.  The female features a rufous (reddish-brown) band across her upper belly that extends down her flanks.  Both sexes have a large head with a bushy crest, a large white collar, a blue band on the breast with white underparts.  Their call is a very rapid rattling series of harsh checks.  Click on the link below for more information and to hear their call.  A shy and skittish bird, it's difficult to get close to them.  Enjoy these photo's of the Belted Kingfisher.....tweet.....tweet!!

Belted Kingfisher (Female)
(Taken 3/9/12, Englewood FL)

Belted Kingfisher (Male)
(Taken 9/28/12, Englewood FL)
  

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Belted_Kingfisher/id

http://floridabirdingtrail.com/index.php/trip/trail/Blind_Pass_Beach/