In my last article, Time to Get Back to Bird Blogging, I mentioned the “Devil Bird.” Or, the “now you see him, now you don’t bird.” :)

The Belted Kingfisher, our local kingfisher, has managed to slow down long enough (or I was fast enough) to get at least a few photos of him or her (I figured out as I posted this) in the past from our back door.

“The belted kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) is a large, conspicuous water kingfisher. All kingfishers were formerly placed in one family, Alcedinidae, but recent research suggests that this should be divided into three subfamilies.

The belted kingfisher is a stocky, medium-sized bird that measures between 28–35 cm (11–14 in) in length with a wingspan of between 48–58 cm (19–23 in). This kingfisher can weigh from 113 to 178 g (4.0 to 6.3 oz). The adult female averages slightly larger than the adult male.

This species has a large head with a shaggy crest. Its long, heavy bill is black with a grey base. These features are common in many kingfisher species. This kingfisher shows reverse sexual dimorphism, with the female more brightly coloured than the male. Both sexes have a slate blue head, large white collar, a large blue band on the breast, and white underparts. The back and wings are slate blue with black feather tips with little white dots. The female features a rufous band across the upper belly that extends down the flanks. Juveniles of this species are similar to adults, but both sexes feature the rufous band on the upper belly. Juvenile males will have a rufous band that is somewhat mottled while the band on females will be much thinner than that on adult females.” (Wikipedia)

Just thought I would share a four minute delight of the Female Belted Kingfisher that zoomed around by the back water. These are zoomed in, and I only shoot program mode, so I am happy that I could at least figure out that this was a female.

Sort of life our lives, now we are here, and soon we are gone. “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”
(James 4:13-15 NKJV)

Enjoy!

Wordless Birds

Belted Kingfisher – Wikipedia