Essential Information on the Belted Kingfisher
The Belted Kingfisher is a winter guest in the Galápagos, journeying from North America. The exact route of the first Belted Kingfishers to reach the Galápagos isn't fully clear, but it's likely that a small migrating group was diverted off course and ended up here by chance.
The Galápagos represents the southernmost known migration point for these kingfishers, making sightings of them on the archipelago a special event for birdwatchers. While the population of Belted Kingfishers in the Galápagos hasn’t been extensively studied, they don’t seem to appear every winter, and the reasons for this variability are still unknown.
When they do visit, Belted Kingfishers are usually found around the lagoons on Isabela and San Cristobal Islands, and they are the sole kingfisher species present there during their stay.
These kingfishers have the classic kingfisher appearance, with a robust body and a long, heavy bill. Measuring about a foot in length, they are typically seen perched on branches or other vantage points near the water, where they hunt for fish near the surface. Upon spotting a potential catch, they quickly dive headfirst into the water to snatch up their prey, which includes not only fish but also small crustaceans and insects.
If you're visiting the Galápagos between October and April, your knowledgeable guides will be on the lookout for Belted Kingfishers and will point them out if they’re spotted. We hope you’re fortunate enough to see this bird in its southernmost winter habitat!
