Belted Kingfisher

Open edition: Museum-quality giclée print on matte fine art paper (acid-free). Vibrant, long-lasting archival inks. Artist’s digitally printed signature.

5×7” (13×18 cm) — 8×10” (20×25 cm)

8×10” (20×25 cm) — 12×16” (30×41 cm)

12×17” (30×43 cm) — 16×20” (41×51 cm)

16×20” (41×51 cm) — 18×24” (46×61 cm)

20×30” (51×76 cm) — 24×36” (61×91 cm)

Frame not included. Print includes a white border for flexible framing options.

Fits Standard Frames

Works with most stock frames (slight adjustment may be needed)

Border allows trimming to fit your frame perfectly

Edge-to-edge fit with many matted frames

Border Benefits

Extra paper for mounting tabs

Accommodates wider or taller matte windows

Shows clean paper edge instead of print edge for a polished look

Pro Tip: For a perfect fit, pair with a custom matte in your stock frame.

Stillness before action

Belted Kingfishers can remain motionless on a perch for extended periods, scanning water for fish movement beneath the surface. They track ripples, shadows, and subtle disturbances with unwavering focus before committing to a dive. This represents the discipline to hold position and observe carefully, understanding that premature action wastes energy while patient observation creates opportunity.

Commitment to accuracy

When a kingfisher dives, it plunges headfirst into water at speeds up to 25 mph, often submerging completely to capture fish in its powerful bill. Success rates are remarkably high because they only strike when conditions align—water clarity, fish position, and timing must all be optimal. This represents the principle that accuracy matters more than frequency, and that quality execution requires waiting for the right conditions.

Defending what matters

Belted Kingfishers defend prime fishing spots year-round, with both males and females patrolling their territories. They drive away intruders with rattling calls and aggressive aerial displays, regardless of the intruder's size. This represents the ability to establish and maintain boundaries, understanding that valuable resources require active protection and that knowing your worth allows you to defend it without hesitation.

Belted Kingfishers inhabit waterways across North America, from Alaska and northern Canada south to Central America. They require clear water for hunting—rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, and coastal estuaries—with nearby elevated perches or banks for nesting. Northern populations migrate south in winter when water freezes, while those in temperate regions remain year-round. They're often found along wooded streams and rivers where overhanging branches provide hunting perches.

Common Name: Belted Kingfisher
Scientific Name: Megaceryle alcyon
Length: 11-14 inches (28-35 cm)
Weight: 4.9-6.0 ounces (140-170 grams)
Wingspan: 19-23 inches (48-58 cm)
Sexual Dimorphism: Females are more colorful than males, displaying a rusty-orange band across the belly that males lack—a rare reversal among North American birds
Coloration: Blue-gray upperparts and head with white underparts. Blue-gray breast band present in both sexes. White collar around neck and white spots on wings and tail. Shaggy, peaked crest on head
Distinctive Features: Oversized head relative to body; long, heavy, dagger-like bill; short legs and small feet; prominent crest that can be raised or lowered; loud rattling call audible from considerable distance

Belted Kingfishers are solitary hunters that employ two primary fishing techniques: perch-and-plunge hunting from elevated positions, and hovering flight over water before diving. From a perch, they scan water surfaces for fish movement, then dive headfirst, often submerging completely. They can also hover 20-30 feet above water, beating their wings rapidly before plunging. After capturing prey, they return to a perch and beat the fish against it to stun or kill it before swallowing it headfirst.

They nest in horizontal burrows excavated in earthen banks near water. Both sexes dig the burrow, which can extend 3-6 feet into the bank, ending in a chamber where 5-7 white eggs are laid on bare soil. Both parents incubate eggs for about 24 days and feed young for approximately 27-29 days until fledging.

Belted Kingfishers are highly vocal birds. Their most common call is a loud, mechanical rattle—"chirt-chirt-chirt"—the vocalization featured on this artwork. They use this call to announce territory, communicate with mates, and sound alarms. The rattle is often heard before the bird is seen, carrying across considerable distances over water. During courtship, males may produce softer clicking sounds.

The Flora Fauna Collection began in 2007 as an ongoing visual study of wildlife from around the world. Each piece captures both the essential form of a species and the unique character it embodies—celebrating natural beauty while revealing what makes each animal distinct.

Featured in British Vanity Fair, IDN Magazine, Dwell, Apartment Therapy, Design Milk, and Complex. The collection appeals to wildlife enthusiasts, design-focused collectors, and those who find personal meaning in the animals they choose to live with.

Designed for modular display and gradual collecting. These prints work individually as accent pieces or grouped to create personal galleries. Build a collection by region, habitat, aesthetic preference, or personal connection.

Your print is made to order and ships from the closest production location to you, helping reduce delivery time and the chance of customs delays. Facilities are located across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Europe, the U.K., Australia, and Japan. Most orders ship from within the same region they’re delivered to.

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Production

2–5 business days for production fulfillment

Shipping

Estimated delivery (after production):
US: 3–8 business days
Canada / Europe / Australia: 5–12 business days
Other international locations: Timing varies by region based on local carriers

These are estimates and not guarantees — delivery times may vary during high-demand seasons.

VAT
For many international destinations (including the UK and EU), VAT is collected at checkout and included in your order total. This helps reduce unexpected charges on delivery.

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Tariff rules vary by country and sometimes change year-to-year. Depending on your region, you may see customs tariffs on certain manufactured goods. When possible, your order ships from a regional facility to help minimize or avoid tariff costs.

The holiday season brings significantly increased demand across all shipping carriers. This can affect both production and transit times.

Here’s what you need to know:

Order earlier than usual to ensure holiday delivery.

Carriers may apply seasonal surcharges and experience longer processing times.

Delivery estimates are not guaranteed during peak holiday periods.

Orders placed in late December may arrive after the holiday, depending on your region.

Instead of strict cutoff dates (which vary globally and change year-to-year), the safest window is:

For December gift-giving, place orders as early in November as possible.