Habitat

Inhabits streams, rivers, ponds, lakes (sheltered coves or shallow bays, small lakes) and estuaries or calm marine waters (Davis 1982) without overgrown vegetation or masses of floating or emergent macrophytes (White 1953). Territories associated with running waters (Hamas 1991) and stream riffles (Davis 1982). Nests in burrows in sandy, clay, or gravelly banks (Armstrong 2008).

References

Armstrong, R. H. 2008. Guide to the birds of Alaska. 5th edition. Alaska Northwest Books, Anchorage, AK. 360 pp.

Davis, W. J. 1982. Territory size in Megaceryle alcyon along a stream habitat. Auk 1999: 353-362.

Hamas, M. J. 1991. Belted Kingfisher. Pp. 258-259 in the atlas of breeding birds of Michigan (R. Brewer, G. A. McPeek, and R. J. Adams, Jr. Eds.). Michigan State Univ. Press, East Lansing.

White, H. C. 1953. The eastern Belted Kingfisher in the maritime provinces. Bull. Fish. Res. Board Can., No. 97: 1-44.