? Belted Kingfisher
A female Belted Kingfisher in flight
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Coraciiformes Family: Cerylidae Genus: Megaceryle Species: M. alcyon
Binomial name
Megaceryle alcyon (Linnaeus, 1758)

The Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) is a large, conspicuous and noisy kingfisher, the only member of that group commonly found in the northern United States and Canada. Belted kingfisher from US NPS Credit: National Park Service staff photo Source: National Park Service, Presidio of San Francisco, Jan 5 2005, Available [Online]: URL http://www. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms (as opposed to folk taxonomy). ... Binomial name Aptenodytes forsteri Gray, 1844 For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Typical Classes Subphylum Urochordata - Tunicatas Ascidiacea Thaliacea Larvacea Subphylum Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrates Petromyzontida - Lampreys Placodermi (extinct) Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes Acanthodii (extinct) Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes Actinistia - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Amphibia - Amphibians Reptilia - Reptiles Aves - Birds Mammalia - Mammals Chordates (phylum Chordata) include the vertebrates, together with... Orders Many - see section below. ... Families Alcedinidae Halcyonidae Cerylidae Brachypteraciidae Coraciidae Leptosomidae Meropidae Momotidae Todidae Bucerotidae Upupidae Phoeniculidae The Coraciiformes are a group of usually colourful near passerine birds including the kingfishers, the Hoopoe, the bee-eaters, the rollers, and the hornbills. ... Genera Megaceryle Ceryle Chloroceryle The water kingfishers or Cerylidae are one of the three families of bird in the kingfisher group, and are also known as the belted kingfishers or cerylid kingfishers. ... Species Megaceryle is a genus of very large kingfishers. ... In biology, binomial nomenclature is the formal method of naming species. ... Carolus Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as (help· info), and in English usually under the Latinized name Carolus Linnaeus (May 23, 1707 – January 10, 1778), the name with which his publications were signed, was a Swedish botanist and physician who laid the foundations for the modern scheme... Families Alcedinidae Halcyonidae Cerylidae Kingfishers are birds of the three families Alcedinidae (river kingfishers), Halcyonidae (tree kingfishers), and Cerylidae (water kingfishers). ...

This bird's breeding habitat is areas near inland bodies of waters or coasts across most of Canada, Alaska and the United States. In the winter, this bird leaves northern inland areas where the water freezes; in other parts of its range, these birds are permanent residents. Official language(s) English Capital Juneau Largest city Anchorage Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 1st 1,717,854 km² 1,300 km 2,380 km 13. ...

It is 28–36 cm long, with deep blue or bluish-gray plumage with white markings, a shaggy crest and a broad white collar around the neck. As shown in the photo, females have a rusty band along the sides of the belly, making this one of the less common cases found in North America where the female is more decorated than the male. Closeup on a single white feather A feather is one of the epidermal growths that forms the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on a bird. ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ...

These birds nest in a horizontal tunnel made in a river bank or sand bank. The female lays 5 to 8 eggs. Both parents excavate the tunnel, incubate the eggs and feed the young. The word incubate in the context of birds refers to the development of the chick (embryo) within the egg and the constant temperature required for the development of it over a specific period. ...

It is often seen perched prominently on trees, posts, or other suitable watchpoints close to water before plunging in head first after its fish prey. They also eat small crustaceans, frogs, aquatic insects, small mammals, lizards and berries. These birds often give a rattling call as they fly overhead. Atlantic herring, Clupea harengus: the most abundant species of fish in the world. ... Classes & Subclasses Class Branchiopoda Subclass Phyllopoda Subclass Sarsostraca Class Remipedia Class Cephalocarida Class Maxillopoda Subclass Thecostraca Subclass Tantulocarida Subclass Branchiura Subclass Pentastomida Subclass Mystacocarida Subclass Copepoda Class Ostracoda Subclass Myodocopa Subclass Podocopa Class Malacostraca Subclass Phyllocarida Subclass Hoplocarida Subclass Eumalacostraca The crustaceans (Crustacea) are a large group of arthropods (55...

This bird migrates from the northern parts of its range to the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, the West Indies and northern South America, and has occurred as an extreme rarity in Iceland, Ireland and the UK. // Long-distance land bird migration Many species of land birds migrate very long distances, the most common pattern being for birds to breed in the temperate or arctic northern hemisphere and winter in warmer regions, often in the tropics or the southern hemisphere. ... Map of Central America Central America is an area of the American continent in the Western Hemisphere. ... The Caribbean or the West Indies is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ...

The number of these birds appears to have declined, possibly as a result of habitat loss.

References

• ITIS 178104
• ITIS 553457

See also

• The Belted Kingfisher was depicted on the 1986 series Canadian $5 note.

The dollar (currency code CAD) has been the currency of Canada since 1858. ...

External link

• Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology