KIngfisher on Black

by Judi Dressler

Title

KIngfisher on Black

Artist

Judi Dressler

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

I heard this Belted Kingfisher calling his clacky, rattly call, and looked up just as he flew to a nearby tree across the pond. He was actively hunting and didn't stay anywhere for more than a minute or two. I got closer as quickly as I could and was about to take a picture when he flew from his sunny perch into a dark area of the pond. This image was taken as he flew across that area. The white patterns in his feathers stand out so beautfully in contrast to the dark on dark of his body against the pond! I enhanced the dark and white areas in this image for a slightly more artistic effect.

The Belted Kingfisher is often first noticed by its wild rattling call as it flies along the edges of rivers, lakes, or ponds. It nests in burrows along earthen banks and feeds almost entirely on aquatic prey, diving to catch fish and crayfish with its heavy, straight bill. It may be seen perched on a high snag, or hovering on rapidly beating wings, then plunging headfirst into the water to grab a fish. Found almost throughout North America at one season or another, it is the only member of its family to be seen in most areas north of Mexico. Males have one blue band across the white breast, while females have a blue and a chestnut band.

Photo taken on March 19, 2022 in Lakewood, Colorado.

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Descriptive tags and keywords for this image include kingfisher, belted kingfisher, belted kingfisher, flying, swooping, hunting, fishing, wing spread, wingspread, wings, patterns, black background, black and white, wing pattern, speedy, small, birds, birds in flight, artistic, megaceryle alcyon, alcedinidae, avian, wild, wildlife, dressler and judi dressler.

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March 20th, 2022

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Viewed 193 Times  -  Last Visitor from Wilmington, DE on 04/17/2024 at 7:44 PM

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