Birds · La Saladita, Guerrero

Belted Kingfisher

Megaceryle alcyon

Spanish: Martín pescador norteño

Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)
Photographed by zihuadean on iNaturalist · CC-BY-NC

The belted kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) is a large, conspicuous water kingfisher, the only member of that group commonly found in the northern United States and Canada. It is depicted on the 1986 series Canadian $5 note. All kingfishers were formerly placed in one family, Alcedinidae, but recent research suggests that this should be divided into three subfamilies.

TaxonomyAves › Coraciiformes › Alcedinidae
Local records16 research-grade observations within about 50 km of La Saladita (the survey box also takes in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Troncones)
Global records83,567 on iNaturalist
Most recent records2023 – 2026
Months of the 8 most recent records
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Recent local sightings

Interactive card with more photos, sounds and similar species Birds guide iNaturalist Wikipedia

Cite as: “Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) at La Saladita”, La Saladita Field Guide, lasaladita.com/species/megaceryle-alcyon/, updated 2026-09-26. Observation counts and months come from iNaturalist research-grade records within about 50 km of 17.8375°N, 101.7606°W (the survey box also takes in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Troncones); summary text from Wikipedia where present.