(under construction–stay tuned!}
Most bird field guides state that adult males have just a single slate blue band across the chest while adult females have an additional rufous band below the blue band. However, juvenile males also often show an incomplete rufous band into late fall and early winter. In this photo, you can also see a bit of rufous feathering infiltrating the lower edge of the blue band—another good sign that this is a first-year (juvenile) male.
To hear the Belted Kingfisher’s typical rattle call, click here and scroll down to “typical voice” on the left.
On the wild side of the Arkansas River valley 