Bird Illustrations

Perching Birds

Watercolor of a Belted Kingfisher perched on a bare diagonal branch, with a raised blue crest and white chest.

Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon), watercolor

About the illustration:
Commissioned by: Wisconsin Sea Grant, University of WisconsinMadison

About the belted kingfisher:
The belted kingfisher is the only kingfisher often found in the northern U.S. It was formerly in the genus Ceryle. Belted kingfishers nest in tunnels in sandbanks near lakes or streams. They are about 12 inches in length. They dive into water to catch fish.

Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata (having a spinal chord)
Class: Aves (birds)
Order: Coraciiformes (near passerine, arboreal)
Family: Cerylidae (water kingfishers)
Genus: Megaceryle
Species: M. alcyon

More about belted kingfishers:
Nova Scotia's Museum of Natural History
USGS: Belted Kingfisher

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