Are there kingfishers in New England?

Quick Answer

Yes, there are kingfishers found in New England. The belted kingfisher is the only species of kingfisher that lives in New England. It is a medium-sized bird with a large head, long pointed bill, short legs, scruffy crest, and chunky body shape. The male has a blue-gray head, back, and chest band, with a white collar and underparts. Females have a rusty band across the chest. Kingfishers make a loud, rattling call and are found near rivers, lakes, ponds, marshes, and estuaries where they dive to catch fish.

Kingfishers are a group of birds in the family Alcedinidae, known for their large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs, and predominantly aquatic habitats. There are over 90 species of kingfisher found throughout the world, but only one species lives in New England – the belted kingfisher.^[1]

The belted kingfisher is a medium-sized kingfisher that breeds across North America. It is the only kingfisher found regularly north of Mexico. Here is some key information about the belted kingfisher:

• Scientific Name: Megaceryle alcyon
• Length: 11-14 inches
• Wingspan: 18-24 inches
• Weight: 5-6 ounces
• Coloration: Slate-blue head, back, and chest band; white collar and underparts; rusty band across chest (females)

In this article, we will explore the range, habitat, behavior, breeding, diet, and conservation status of the belted kingfisher to understand how it has adapted to living in New England.

Range and Distribution

The belted kingfisher has a very large range extending across North America. It breeds from Alaska and Canada southwards to Central America. Some key details about its distribution include:^[2]

• Breeds across much of the US and Canada, including all states in New England
• Partially migratory – northern populations migrate south for winter
• Winters along coasts, rivers, lakes from southern Canada to Guatemala
• Rare along western coast, but widespread east of the Rocky Mountains

In New England, the belted kingfisher can be found year-round near suitable habitat. It breeds throughout all six New England states during spring and summer. Some individuals that bred farther north migrate down into New England to overwinter around open waters before returning north in spring.

New England Range Map

Figure 1 – Belted kingfisher range map showing presence year-round in all New England states. Source: The Cornell Lab

So in summary, the belted kingfisher is a year-round resident across all parts of New England as it resides in the region for breeding and may also overwinter here.

Preferred Habitat

The belted kingfisher inhabits areas close to water and nests in riverbanks or other earthen embankments. Typical belted kingfisher habitat includes:^[3]

• Lakes, rivers, ponds, estuaries
• Streams, creeks
• Marshlands, wetlands
• Coastlines
• Wooded riverbanks, earthen banks, sand pits (for nesting)

It perches on low branches, rocks, posts, utility wires, or other vantage points near the water to scan for prey. Clear, clean water is preferred as muddy or polluted water makes it harder to spot fish. Ideal fishing spots provide a combination of good visibility, adequate fish populations, and suitable perches.

Suitable Habitat Examples in New England

Some prime belted kingfisher habitat examples in New England include:

• Connecticut River – Flows through CT, MA, NH, VT
• Housatonic River – Flows through CT and MA
• Androscoggin River – Across ME and NH
• Kennebec River – Southern ME
• Lake Champlain – Along VT-NY border
• Cape Cod estuaries – Coastal MA

Rivers like the Connecticut provide ideal feeding and nesting sites with high, sandy banks. Large lakes like Champlain host good fish populations. And coastal estuaries in Cape Cod supply fish while offering perches like channel markers. The kingfisher’s capability to inhabit both freshwater and marine areas expands its range across New England.

Behavior

The belted kingfisher exhibits some notable behaviors and characteristics:

• Perch and Dive Foraging – Hunts by perching above water then diving to catch fish.
• Territorial – Defends feeding and nesting territories.
• Vocal – Loud, rattling call.
• Solitary – Usually alone or in mating pairs.
• Aggressive – Will chase competing kingfishers and other intruders.

Kingfishers aggressively defend prime fishing spots that offer ideal visibility, fish populations, and perching sites. They frequently call from conspicuous perches to communicate their territory. If another kingfisher encroaches, intense aerial chases may ensue with birds repeatedly diving at each other.^[4] They also chase potential predators like hawks away from the nesting area.

Fishing Strategy

To catch fish, the belted kingfisher utilizes a perch-and-dive hunting technique:

1. Perches conspicuously on a branch, rock, post, wire, etc near water.
2. Scans the water by nodding its head searching for fish.
3. Dives headfirst into the water to grab fish in its bill.
4. Returns to perch to consume prey items.
5. Regurgitates indigestible parts like scales and bones as pellets.

Its excellent eyesight allows it to detect slight movements of fish swimming beneath the water’s surface. It plunges into the water and catches small fish in its long, dagger-like bill.

Breeding

Belted kingfishers breed in the spring and summer months. They form monogamous pair bonds that reunite yearly for nesting and tend to use the same nesting sites in subsequent years. Here are some key facts about their breeding behavior:^[5]

• Nests in riverbanks or earth embankments with nesting tunnels 3-6 ft deep.
• Lays 5-8 eggs in unlined nest chamber at end of tunnel.
• Both parents incubate eggs for about 3-4 weeks.
• Young fledge in 4-5 weeks and are fed by parents for a few more weeks.
• Have one brood per year. May re-nest if first attempt fails.

The male performs courtship flights to attract the female back to the nesting site. Once bonded, the pair excavates a long tunnel into a vertical bank culminating in a nest chamber. Fish bones and other indigestible remains accumulate in the nest chamber. Both parents share brooding and feeding duties. The fledglings follow their parents and learn to hunt fish in preparation for their independence.

Diet

Fish make up the bulk of the belted kingfisher’s diet. It occasionally eats crustaceans, insects, amphibians, and other small vertebrates. Some key diet notes include:

• Feeds predominantly on fish – upto 90% of diet.
• Catches 2-6 inch fish that swim near water’s surface.
• Favored fish include minnows, stickleback, sunfish.
• Requires about half its weight in food daily.
• Hunts from favored, defended fishing perches.

Its fish-heavy diet requires clean waters with adequate populations of small fish that school near the surface. Loss of suitable fishing waters can lead to food shortages and habitat displacement.

Table of Known Prey Items

Table 1 – Known prey items of the belted kingfisher showing a predominance of small fish species.

Conservation Status

The belted kingfisher has a healthy, stable population across its wide range. Its conservation status is classified as:

• IUCN Red List: Least Concern
• US Endangered Species Act: Not listed

Population threats and concerns include:^[6]

• Habitat loss due to river damming, urbanization, pollution.
• Exposure to pesticides – may reduce breeding success.
• Disturbance of nest sites.
• Climate change altering habitat.
• Collision with vehicles and wires.

Maintaining suitable rivers, lakes, and coastal habitats will help conserve kingfisher populations. Reduction of pesticides and protecting nesting sites is also beneficial. While still relatively common, belted kingfisher numbers have declined in some regions. Continued habitat and species monitoring helps ensure New England’s kingfisher populations remain stable.

Conclusion

In summary, the belted kingfisher is the only kingfisher species found in New England. It inhabits rivers, lakes, estuaries, and other waterways where it dives to catch small fish. A year-round resident, it nests along riverbanks and feeds territorially from favored perches. Conservation efforts aimed at reducing water pollution, preserving suitable fishing waters and nesting sites, and protecting important habitat will help ensure New England’s kingfisher populations thrive for years to come. Though kingfishers face some threats, they remain a conspicuous and iconic sight along New England’s waterways.

References

1. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. “Belted Kingfisher Overview.” All About Birds. Accessed October 17, 2023.
2. Kaufman, Kenn. “Belted Kingfisher.” Audubon Field Guide, 17 Oct. 2020.
3. Mossman, Michael J. and Brody, A. J., 1984. “Use of Perches as Vantage Points During Foraging by Belted Kingfishers.” The Wilson Bulletin, vol. 96 no. 4, pp. 625-627.
4. Davis, J.N., 1982. “Aggressive Behavior of Wintering Belted Kingfishers.” The Wilson Bulletin, vol. 94 no. 3, pp. 356-368.
5. Hamas, M.J., 1994. “Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon).” In The Birds of North America, No. 84, edited by A. Poole and F. Gill. Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington DC: The American Ornithologists’ Union.
6. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Megaceryle alcyon.” Accessed October 17, 2023.