Belted Kingfisher — Family Alcedinidæ
390. Ceryle alcyon. 13 inches.
The rattling note of this well known bird is familiar in almost all localities in the neighborhood of ponds or rivers where small fish are common, throughout North America. Their food consists almost entirely of small fish, which they catch by plunging upon from high in the air, where they will hover over the water similar to the Osprey, or they will spend their time sitting upon an overhanging limb, and, when a fish is seen, drop from that upon the fish, usually taking it back to the limb to be eaten.
Nest.—Is located at the end of burrows, which they dig out of the sand banks or the banks of creeks and rivers, sometimes extending back from six to eight feet, usually with a little rise in the tunnel for the purpose of keeping it dry. They lay from five to eight glossy white eggs (1.35 × 1.05).