Galapagos Belted Kingfisher Facts

Name: Belted Kingfisher
Family: Alcedinidae
Scientific name: Megaceryle alcyon
Length: 28–35 cm (11–14 in) in length with a wingspan of 48–58 cm (19–23 in)
Weight: 113 to 178 g (4.0 to 6.3 oz)

Category: Land Birds
Number of Species: 49
Endemic Species: 22

In total, 49 species of land birds have been recorded in the Galapagos, 22 of which are endemic to the Islands. Land birds can be divided into 5 categories: Diurnal Raptors, Night Birds, Larger Land Birds, Aerial Feeders and Smaller Land Birds.

Category: Larger Land Birds
Endemic Subspecies: Galapagos Dove

Eight species of larger land birds have been recorded in Galapagos, five of which are resident including one endemic species. The larger land birds can be conveniently divided into three groups: Pigeons & Doves, Kingfishers and Cuckoos.

Kingfishers are small to medium-sized, stocky birds with short legs and necks, large heads and very large, dagger shaped bills, which are used to catch fish. The only species recorded in Galapagos, the Belted Kingfisher, is large with unmistakable plumage.

Identification:
Unmistakable; the only kingfisher recorded in Galapagos. Stocky built, with large, crested head and strong, dagger-like bill. Adults are blue-grey above, with a broad white collar. Underparts mainly white with, in male, a single blue-grey breast-band and in female an additional rufous band across the upper belly, extending to the flanks. Juveniles resemble adults, but have rufous tones to the breast-band.

Behavior:
Perches or hovers over water, plunging head first to catch fish.

Up-close shot of a Galapagos Belted Kingfisher