The Belted Kingfisher might be my favorite bird that can be found around creeks and streams.

Belted Kingfishers can be found around just about any type of body of water.

Usually I know they are around because I hear them before I see them. They have a distinctive call that seems to often precede them taking flight. Google their call. It is one of the easiest bird calls to learn because it is so distinctive.

Sometimes I hear then shortly thereafter see a Belted Kingfisher as it zooms by.

The Belted Kingfisher is either found perched on a branch surveying the area or in flight. Not just flying but taking flight with determination. Moving from location to location to find prey it can pick out of the water.

When the Belted Kingfisher spots what it is looking for it dives head first into the water to catch its prey with its beak. Man do I wish I had one of those photos to show you.

This photo illustrates a Belted Kingfisher moving in flight through its environment along a stream in the Finger Lakes region of New York. This was one of the first times I was able to watch Belted Kingfishers on a regular basis.

Photo info: Nikon D300. Nikon 300mm f/4. Focal length 420mm. ISO 1000. 1/1250 sec. f/5.6.