Population status

Belted Kingfisher
(Megaceryle alcyon)

The Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) is the best source of monitoring data for the Belted Kingfisher. The survey covers about half of the species' breeding population in Canada, with less coverage in the northernmost portion. BBS results demonstrate that the Belted Kingfisher population has experienced a long-term, steady and continuing decrease throughout its Canadian range resulting in a 46% loss of abundance since 1970. Continental BBS results also show a decrease, indicating that population loss is widespread. The Belted Kingfisher has been below the lowest acceptable level relative to its national population goal since about 1990 (see Canada graph below).

Population goal and acceptable levels of variation

Species/group	Goal	Lower level	Upper level
Belted Kingfisher	Mean abundance (first 5 years of survey)	Goal minus 25%	Not applicable

Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis

Additional information on: Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis

View definitions of table column headings being used by: Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis

Table 1: Population trends by geographic area
Geographic area	Time Period ^{Table 1 - footnote 1}	Annual trend ^{Table 1 - footnote 2}	Limits
Geographic area	Time Period ^{Table 1 - footnote 1}	Annual trend ^{Table 1 - footnote 2}	Lower	Upper
Canada Select to view graph of the geographic area: Canada 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis	1970-2016	-1.3	-1.8	-0.9
Canada Select to view graph of the geographic area: Canada 2006-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis	2006-2016	-1.4	-4.6	0.6
Northern Pacific Rainforest Select to view graph of the geographic area: Northern Pacific Rainforest 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis	1970-2016	-0.9	-2.2	0.6
Great Basin Select to view graph of the geographic area: Great Basin 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis	1970-2016	-1.9	-3.3	-0.6
Northern Rockies Select to view graph of the geographic area: Northern Rockies 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis	1970-2016	-1.5	-2.6	-0.2
Boreal Hardwood Transition Select to view graph of the geographic area: Boreal Hardwood Transition 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis	1970-2016	-1.7	-2.4	-1.1
Lower Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Plain Select to view graph of the geographic area: Lower Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Plain 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis	1970-2016	-2	-2.7	-1.3
Atlantic Northern Forest Select to view graph of the geographic area: Atlantic Northern Forest 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis	1970-2016	-0.8	-1.4	-0.1
North America Select to view graph of the geographic area: North America 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis	1970-2016	-1.4	-1.7	-1.2

References

Archer, R. and S.T.A. Timmermans. 2007. Belted Kingfisher. pp. 318-319 in: Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario, 2001-2005. Cadman, M.D., D.A. Sutherland, G.G. Beck, D. Lepage and A.R. Couturier, Eds. Bird Studies Canada, Environment Canada, Ontario Field Ornithologists, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, and Ontario Nature, Toronto, Ontario.
Kelly, J.F., E.S. Bridge and M.J. Hamas. 2009. Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Kelly, J.F., E.S. Bridge and M.J. Hamas. 2009. Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. (Link)