Birdland: Grace And Speed

Belted Kingfishers are most effective fishers, hence their name. They are highly territorial, and spend much of their time perched alone in trees along the edges of streams and lakes looking for small fish. When they spot one they either dive-bomb directly from their perch to capture it, or they hover over the water, with their bill downward, before diving in. Various studies have shown they have an impressive 50 percent success rate capturing their prey when diving off a branch. This male Belted Kingfisher was photographed at Prospect Park in Wheatridge by Mark Silverstein.