Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)
Owls & Kingfishers
Casual
Belted Kingfisher, male - Chino, CA
© Tom Benson
The Belted Kingfisher is a casual visitor to campus with birds occasionally seen migrating over campus. There is one spring record in April and and four fall records between August and October. It is a fairly common migrant and winter visitor throughout southern California at rivers, lakes, ponds, and lagoons, essentially any body of water with fish.
The male Belted Kingfisher can be identified by its long, heavy bill, white underparts, and blue-gray head, upperparts, and breast band. Females are similar but also have a red-orange band across the belly.