The white bird commonly seen diving for fish in the lakes and rivers of Ontario is likely the belted kingfisher. The belted kingfisher is a medium-sized bird with a large head, long pointed bill, short legs, and scruffy head feathers that form a shaggy crest. Their most distinctive feature is the broad blue-gray band across their white chests and bellies, from which their name is derived. Belted kingfishers are solitary birds that perch alone on branches, posts, wires, or other high vantage points near water, watching for fish. When they spot prey, they plunge headfirst into the water with a loud splash to capture it in their bills. Their unique diving behavior makes them a delight to observe for birders in Ontario.
Identifying Features of the Belted Kingfisher
Here are some key facts about the appearance and behavior of belted kingfishers that can help identify them:
- Size: 27-35 cm long with a wingspan of 47-57 cm
- Coloration: Slate blue upperparts, white underparts, blue-gray breast band, white collar, blue-gray crest
- Bill: Large, long, pointed gray bill
- Legs: Short, reddish-orange legs and feet
- Behavior: Perches upright on branches, wires, or posts near water before plunging headfirst to catch fish
- Call: Loud, rattling calls
- Habitat: Lakes, rivers, streams, estuaries
- Range: Widespread across North America
The belted kingfisher’s slate blue and white plumage makes it stand out against riverside trees or shoreline vegetation. Its top-heavy physique, with a large head and bill and short legs, is adapted for diving. Watch for them perching prominently before making dramatic dives for fish and crustaceans. Their rattling call often gives away their presence too. Belted kingfishers may aggressively chase away competitors from their fishing spots. They are a common sight along waterways in most of Ontario.
Comparison to Similar Ontario Birds
Two other white and blue birds sometimes seen near water in Ontario are worth comparing to the belted kingfisher:
Ring-Billed Gull
- All white with a black ring around the tip of its yellow bill
- Yellow legs
- Forages by floating on the water surface or wading rather than diving
- Omnivorous; eats fish but also land animals, garbage, insects
- Highly social, usually in flocks
Great Blue Heron
- Large wading bird with slate blue-gray upperparts
- Long neck, long legs, and long bill
- Slow, patient hunting in shallow water
- Does not dive but spears prey with its bill
- Solitary when foraging but nests colonially
The belted kingfisher has a more stocky, compact shape than the gangly great blue heron. It lacks the ring-billed gull’s all-white plumage and yellow bill markings. Only the belted kingfisher plunges entirely into the water to catch aquatic prey in its bill. These differences help distinguish it from other water birds.
Range and Habitat
Belted kingfishers are widespread across North America from Alaska to Newfoundland, south to Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, and central Mexico. Their breeding range stretches across Canada and the United States. Some northern populations migrate south for the winter while others remain year-round if open water persists.
Belted kingfishers inhabit waterside habitats including:
- Lakeshores
- Rivers
- Creeks
- Marshes
- Estuaries
- Coastlines
They are found most often near clear, open water where they can easily spot fish from an overhanging perch. Slow-moving rivers, lakes, ponds, and marshes provide ideal fishing spots. They may occasionally forage in tidal pools or wetlands. Although ubiquitous across Ontario near suitable habitat, they are sensitive to water quality and abandon polluted waters. Healthy populations indicate clean water.
Diet
Belted kingfishers are specialized for feeding on aquatic animals, especially fish. Their diet consists of:
- Fish – Primary prey. Catches a wide variety, both large fish like trout and small fish like sticklebacks, minnows, and sunfish. Usually swallows fish whole.
- Crustaceans – Crayfish, crabs
- Insects – Sometimes large insects like dragonflies
- Amphibians – Frogs, salamanders
- Other – Small reptiles, mice, berries (occasionally)
They require clear water to successfully hunt fish and capture their prey entirely unaided, without cooperative hunting. An abundance of fish allows belted kingfishers to thrive. Their solitary nature means they must catch enough prey to meet their own individual energy needs.
Hunting Strategy
Belted kingfishers have a well-adapted hunting strategy for catching aquatic prey:
- Perch on an exposed high vantage point like a branch overhanging water.
- Scan the water intently, sometimes bobbing their head to help detect movements.
- Hover briefly then plunge headfirst into the water with wings tucked back when prey is spotted.
- Seize prey in bill, surface, and return to perch.
- Bludgeon larger prey on the branch before swallowing.
- Regurgitate indigestible parts like scales and bones as pellets.
Their considerable momentum on impact lets them plunge 1-3 meters below the surface. This strategy provides an efficient means to catch mobile fish and crustaceans. It allows them to exploit an aquatic food source other inland birds cannot easily access.
Breeding
Belted kingfishers breed as solitary pairs, not in colonies. Courtship may involve aerial displays and pursuit flights. Between April and July, the pair excavates a nest burrow in a vertical bank of sand, soil, or gravel near water. The female performs most of the excavation over 2-3 weeks, using her bill to dig a tunnel 1-2 meters long leading to a widened nest chamber. Burrows are often reused year after year.
Nests
Belted kingfisher nest details:
- Location – Steep riverbank, lakeshore, roadside cut, gravel pit, etc.
- Tunnel – 50-90 cm long, 8 cm wide
- Nest chamber – 20 cm wide
- Lining – None, bare earth
The female lays 5-8 glossy white eggs and incubates them for 23-24 days while the male brings food. Both parents feed the young fish regurgitated as whole, partially digested prey. The young fledge at around 30 days old.
Conservation Status
The belted kingfisher has a large range and healthy overall population. Their numbers declined in the mid-1900s due to habitat loss and degradation from wetland drainage and water pollution, as well as pesticide use reducing prey populations. However, populations rebounded after DDT was banned and habitat protections were enacted.
Population Trend
According to the North American Breeding Bird Survey, belted kingfisher populations in Canada increased by 2.1% per year between 1970 and 2019. Partners in Flight estimates a global breeding population of 1.4 million with 71% living in the U.S. and Canada. Their numbers are stable and sustainable.
Current Conservation Status
- IUCN Red List: Least Concern
- Federal listing (Canada): Not at Risk
- COSEWIC: Not Assessed
- Provincial listing: Secure across most provinces
As a common species not approaching threatened status, the belted kingfisher has a low conservation priority. Some local declines may still occur if water quality deteriorates. Ongoing protection of waterways will help ensure thriving kingfisher populations into the future.
Interesting Facts
Here are some fascinating facts about the unique belted kingfisher:
- The belted kingfisher is the only crested kingfisher found in the Americas.
- Its rattling call can be heard up to 1 km away.
- Females have chest bands ranging from blue to reddish-purple.
- They are capable of hovering in place briefly while hunting.
- Young kingfishers have fewer or no belts and may wander far from water after fledging.
- They migrate during the day, not at night like many birds.
- Bone fragments from digested prey form compacted, undigested masses later regurgitated as pellets.
- Ancient Native American myths saw the belted kingfisher as a symbol of peace and prosperity.
Summary
In summary, the white-breasted, slate-backed bird diving for fish in Ontario’s lakes and rivers is the belted kingfisher. It can be identified by its chunky profile, blue-gray band across its white front, shaggy crest, and remarkable fishing behavior as it plunges from its waterside perch to capture aquatic prey. Abundant across North America in suitable habitat, populations of this unique bird remain healthy and stable thanks to protections for wetlands and waterways. The belted kingfisher is a beloved sight for birders and symbol of water quality and wildness, bringing life to Ontario’s waterways.
