General Description: Belted Kingfishers (Megaceryle alcyon) are noisy birds that dive from perches or hover and dive into water to catch fish. The back, wings, head, and crest are blue-gray. The neck and belly are white, separated by a blue-gray neck band. Females also have a reddish belly band.

Taxonomy: Coraciiformes (kingfishers, Hoopoe, bee-eaters, rollers, and hornbills), Alcedinidae (Water Kingfishers); formerly Ceryle alcyon.

Favored Habitat: Ponds with trees to perch in.

Where to Find: Neighborhood ponds, parks (e.g., Lorenzi Park and Sunset Park), Floyd Lamb State Park, and the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. To find them in more natural habitat, visit the Pahranagat Valley or the Overton Wildlife Management Area.

Comments: Kingfishers are unusual among birds because the female is more colorful than the male.