Birds of North Carolina
their Distribution and Abundance
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
 Family (Alpha):
Sole representative of ALCEDINIDAE in NC
Megaceryle alcyon
General Comments
Few other birds in the state are as readily identifiable as the Belted Kingfisher, as it is found across the entire state, essentially the entire year, and has no close relatives in the East. There is some migratory movement, though in most areas of the state (especially in the Piedmont and inner Coastal Plain), such movements can be difficult to detect. It is always found near water, primarily fresh, but at times around brackish or salt water. Favored habitats are shores of lakes and ponds, rivers and wide creeks, and fresh and brackish marshes. It nests only in near-vertical banks; thus, in the breeding season it can be scarce in places near the coast and lower Coastal Plain where suitable banks are absent, yet where suitable foraging habitat is present.
Breeding Status
Breeder
NC BRC List
Definitive
State Status
none
U.S. Status
Definitive
State Rank
S5B,S5N
Global Rank
G5
Coastal Plain
Permanent resident, with some migratory movements. Fairly common over nearly all the province in summer, but often uncommon near the coast; in winter, fairly common to common in the lower Coastal Plain and fairly common in the interior of the province. Peak counts: ?
Piedmont
Permanent resident. Fairly common essentially throughout, with little evidence of migratory movements. Peak counts: ?
Mountain
Permanent resident. In summer and during migration, generally fairly common at lower elevations (to about 3,000 feet), but decreasing in numbers at higher elevations, being generally absent or very rare above 5,000 feet. One seen in flight over Carver's Gap at Roan Mountain at about 5,500 feet elevation on 8 Nov 2016 was at a quite high elevation. In winter (Nov through Feb), mostly uncommon over the region below 3,000 feet, and quite rare above that elevation. Peak counts: ?
Finding Tips
Spending an hour or two around a reservoir or other sizable lake, or boating down a river such as the Lumber or Roanoke, is almost sure to turn up one or two kingfishers.