Belted Kingfisher

Belted Kingfisher

Megaceryle alcyon

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Isle Royale National Park
56 Verified sightings at Isle Royale National Park From 2019 to 2026
23,817 Verified sightings across all 69 parks From 2019 to 2026
September Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Belted Kingfisher

The belted kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) is a large, conspicuous water kingfisher, native to North America. The belted kingfisher received its scientific name from Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the 10th edition of his Systema Naturae. He introduced the binomial name Alcedo alcyon, basing the name on descriptions and images published by Mark Catesby (1731), John Ray (1713), and George Edwards (1750). The current genus Megaceryle was erected by German naturalist Johann Jakob Kaup in 1848. Megaceryle is from the Ancient Greek megas, "great", and the existing genus Ceryle. The specific name alcyon is Latin for "kingfisher".

The Megaceryle large green kingfishers were formerly placed in Ceryle with the pied kingfisher, but the latter is closer to the Chloroceryle American green kingfishers. The belted kingfisher's closest living relative is the ringed kingfisher (M. torquata), and these two in all probability originated from an African Megaceryle, which colonized the Americas.

The belted kingfisher is a stocky, medium-sized bird that measures from 28–35 cm (11–14 in) in length with a wingspan from 48–58 cm (19–23 in). It can weigh from 113... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
~50%
2 Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~40%
3 Ciénaga de Zapata 🇨🇺 Cuba
~40%
4 Katmai National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~40%
5 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~30%
6 Celestún Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~30%
7 Wood Buffalo National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~30%
8 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~20%
9 Isla del Coco National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
10 Bahía de Loreto National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~20%
11 Lago de Yojoa 🇭🇳 Honduras
~20%
12 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~20%
13 Jaragua National Park 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
~20%
14 Los Haitises National Park 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
~20%
15 Isle Royale National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
16 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
17 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
18 Congaree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
19 Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
20 Gros Morne National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
21 Saguaro National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
22 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
23 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
24 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
25 Palo Verde National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
26 Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~10%
27 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
28 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
29 Biotopo Cerro Cahuí 🇬🇹 Guatemala
~10%
30 Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
31 Coiba National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
32 Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
33 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
34 Las Baulas Marine National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
35 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
36 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
37 Cañón del Sumidero National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
38 Pico Bonito National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
39 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
40 Kenai Fjords National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
41 Denali National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
42 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
43 Cahuita National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
44 Santa Rosa National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
45 Tayrona National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
46 Manuel Antonio National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
47 Ostional Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
48 Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary 🇧🇿 Belize
<5%
49 Tikal National Park 🇬🇹 Guatemala
<5%
50 Marino Ballena National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
51 Piedras Blancas National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
52 Corcovado National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
53 Chagres National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
54 Soberanía National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
55 Carara National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
56 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
57 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
58 Darién National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
59 Los Quetzales National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
60 Cabo Pulmo National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
61 Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
62 Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
63 Caroni Swamp 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
Insufficient data
64 Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park 🇯🇲 Jamaica
Insufficient data
65 Main Ridge Forest Reserve 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
Insufficient data
66 Rincón de la Vieja National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
67 Tenorio Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
68 Galápagos Islands 🇪🇨 Ecuador
Insufficient data
69 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Belted Kingfisher in Isle Royale National Park?

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Belted Kingfisher sighting in Isle Royale National Park, based on 56 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Belted Kingfisher in Isle Royale National Park?

September has the highest sighting rate for Belted Kingfisher in Isle Royale National Park in our monthly data.

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