Belted Kingfisher
Megaceryle alcyon
Birds & Mammals
Shoreline, creek and nearshore waters
iNaturalist record: 2023
Meet this species
Belted kingfishers are closely associated with water because fish and other aquatic prey make up much of their diet. Around an estuary or creek they can move between shoreline perches, freshwater habitat and nearshore marine waters, making them one of the most visible links between aquatic food webs and the surrounding terrestrial landscape.
Belted kingfisher perched near the waters of the Glasgow Creek–Greene Point landscape.
What to look for:
Look for a stocky blue-grey bird with a shaggy crest, a white collar and a long, heavy, pointed bill. Belted kingfishers often perch conspicuously over water before diving headfirst after small fish. Their rattling call can sometimes reveal them before they are seen.
Why It Matters Here:
A fish-eating bird is a remarkably clear example of energy moving out of the water and into the wider ecosystem. Kingfishers help make the connection between Glasgow Creek, the estuary and the forest edge easy for visitors to see and understand.
Field Record
Documented at Greene Point through field observations and photographs recorded on iNaturalist.