{"id":93958,"date":"2021-08-24T05:40:35","date_gmt":"2021-08-24T11:40:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=93958"},"modified":"2026-02-04T05:53:27","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T11:53:27","slug":"male-belted-kingfisher-plus-a-rare-migrant-northern-waterthrush","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2021\/08\/24\/male-belted-kingfisher-plus-a-rare-migrant-northern-waterthrush\/","title":{"rendered":"Male Belted Kingfisher Plus A Rare Migrant Northern Waterthrush"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"BeltedBelted Kingfisher in a willow portrait \u2013 Nikon D810, f7.1, 1\/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Yesterday while I was up in the mountains looking for birds to photograph a male Belted Kingfisher flew in so close to me that my first photos of it were portraits. I was using my Nikon D810 with my Nikkor 500mm VR lens and a 1.4x TC attached in DX (cropped) mode and I couldn’t fit the whole body of the kingfisher into the frame.<\/p>\n

\"BeltedBelted Kingfisher perched high in a willow \u2013 Nikon D810, f9, 1\/1600, ISO 640, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I took a few portraits then switched over to FX mode which allowed me to fit all of the bird into the frame without clipping the tail of the kingfisher. It delighted me that the Belted Kingfisher stuck around on this branch because that gave me great views of him.<\/p>\n

\"BeltedBelted Kingfisher male calling from a willow \u2013 Nikon D810, f9, 1\/1250, ISO 640, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

The male Belted Kingfisher got excited when he heard another kingfisher calling off in the distance and he returned the call.<\/p>\n

\"BeltedBelted Kingfisher staring at something with intensity \u2013 Nikon D810, f9, 1\/500, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

A few minutes later the kingfisher spotted something and stared at it with intensity. I have no idea what he was staring at but I could hear swallows nearby and they seem to enjoy dive-bombing kingfishers so he may have been keeping an eye on them.<\/p>\n

While I photographed the Belted Kingfisher I kept an eye out for other birds in the willows. I spotted and photographed several Yellow Warblers, a female or immature Common Yellowthroat, a couple of young Song Sparrows, and then a bird that amazed me showed up.<\/p>\n

\"NorthernNorthern Waterthrush in the Wasatch Mountains \u2013 Nikon D810, f9, 1\/640, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Below where the male Belted Kingfisher was perched a Northern Waterthrush<\/span><\/a> appeared and as it moved around in the willows I was able to get a few documentary photos of it. I suspected that it was a Northern Waterthrush as soon as I saw it and I knew that they are rare migrants to northern Utah.<\/p>\n

After the waterthrush disappeared from my sight and the Belted Kingfisher flew to another tree I took a back of camera photo and opened the Merlin app on my phone and when the app ID’d the bird as a Northern Waterthrush.<\/p>\n

I also contacted Billy Fenimore<\/span><\/a> and Mark Stackhouse<\/span><\/a> to verify the identification. Both Billy and Mark agreed with my ID and with the app.<\/p>\n

I used to see Northern Waterthrushes back east before I became a bird photographer but that has been a long, long time.<\/p>\n

If I hadn’t been sitting exactly where I was at the time I was photographing the Belted Kingfisher I would have missed out on seeing this rare Northern Waterthrush. Paying attention, especially beyond the viewfinder, and being patient, paid off for me once again.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

My thanks go out to Billy and Mark, I appreciate their help and want to give credit where credit is due.<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my Belted Kingfisher photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If I hadn’t been sitting exactly where I was at the time I was photographing the Belted Kingfisher I would have missed out on seeing this rare Northern Waterthrush.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":168481,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[500,27,12149,7646,1731,26,773],"tags":[2432,3940,4934,4933,4062,3008,9862,3946,4069,12150,12151,1902,9626,2315,1732,6725,30,3888,3889,4176,12152,12153,6107,902,6492],"class_list":["post-93958","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-belted-kingfishers","category-avian","category-northern-waterthrushes","category-rarities","category-summit-county-utah","category-utah","category-wasatch-mountains","tag-belted-kingfisher","tag-canyon","tag-kingfisher","tag-kingfishers","tag-male","tag-megaceryle-alcyon","tag-migrant","tag-migrating","tag-mountains","tag-northern-waterthrush","tag-parkesia-noveboracensis","tag-rare","tag-riparian-habitat","tag-summer-3","tag-summit-county-2","tag-thicket","tag-utah-2","tag-warbler","tag-warblers","tag-wasatch-mountains","tag-waterthrush","tag-waterthrushes","tag-willow","tag-willows","tag-wood-warblers"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/belted-kingfisher-summer-mia-mcpherson-4920.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-ors","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":108672,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/12\/11\/queenfisher-2023-aba-bird-of-the-year\/","url_meta":{"origin":93958,"position":0},"title":"Queenfisher – 2023 ABA Bird of the Year","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 11, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The 2023 ABA Bird of the Year was revealed yesterday evening. The bird of the year is the Queenfisher, also known as the female Belted Kingfisher.","rel":"","context":"In "Belted Kingfishers"","block_context":{"text":"Belted Kingfishers","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/kingfishers\/belted-kingfishers\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Female Belted Kingfisher on her throne, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/belted-kingfisher-female-farmington-bay-mia-mcpherson-9262.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/belted-kingfisher-female-farmington-bay-mia-mcpherson-9262.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/belted-kingfisher-female-farmington-bay-mia-mcpherson-9262.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, 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Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/beleted-kingfisher-adult-male-mia-mcpherson-0494.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/beleted-kingfisher-adult-male-mia-mcpherson-0494.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/beleted-kingfisher-adult-male-mia-mcpherson-0494.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/beleted-kingfisher-adult-male-mia-mcpherson-0494.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":116982,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/10\/13\/bird-battle-belted-kingfisher-vs-merlin\/","url_meta":{"origin":93958,"position":2},"title":"Bird Battle: Belted Kingfisher vs. Merlin","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 13, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Little did I know that on my last trip up into the Wasatch Mountains, that I would witness a battle between a Belted Kingfisher and my first-of-season Merlin.","rel":"","context":"In "Belted Kingfishers"","block_context":{"text":"Belted Kingfishers","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/kingfishers\/belted-kingfishers\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Male Belted Kingfisher bothering a Merlin, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/belted-kingfisher-merlin-wasatch-mountains-mia-mcpherson-2553.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/belted-kingfisher-merlin-wasatch-mountains-mia-mcpherson-2553.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/belted-kingfisher-merlin-wasatch-mountains-mia-mcpherson-2553.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/belted-kingfisher-merlin-wasatch-mountains-mia-mcpherson-2553.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":58067,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/05\/21\/female-belted-kingfisher-in-the-wasatch-mountains\/","url_meta":{"origin":93958,"position":3},"title":"Female Belted Kingfisher in the Wasatch Mountains","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 21, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"The nicest surprise of the morning was when a female Belted Kingfisher perched on a branch close to a creek and the road.","rel":"","context":"In "Belted Kingfishers"","block_context":{"text":"Belted Kingfishers","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/kingfishers\/belted-kingfishers\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Female Belted Kingfisher in a mountain canyon, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/belted-kingfisher-female-creek-mia-mcpherson-9851.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/belted-kingfisher-female-creek-mia-mcpherson-9851.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/belted-kingfisher-female-creek-mia-mcpherson-9851.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/belted-kingfisher-female-creek-mia-mcpherson-9851.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":87271,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2021\/05\/10\/male-belted-kingfisher-and-pussy-willows\/","url_meta":{"origin":93958,"position":4},"title":"Male Belted Kingfisher And Pussy Willows","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 10, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Saturday morning I was delighted when a male Belted Kingfisher flew in and perched in front of pussy willow catkins high in the Wasatch Mountains.","rel":"","context":"In "Belted Kingfishers"","block_context":{"text":"Belted Kingfishers","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/kingfishers\/belted-kingfishers\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Male Belted Kingfisher in front of pussy willows, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, 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2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Today I am sharing four male Belted Kingfisher photos that I have taken this spring in the Wasatch Mountains starting with one that I took yesterday morning.","rel":"","context":"In "Belted Kingfishers"","block_context":{"text":"Belted Kingfishers","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/kingfishers\/belted-kingfishers\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Belted Kingfisher male in front of yellow wildflowers, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/belted-kingfisher-mountains-mia-mcpherson-2232.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/belted-kingfisher-mountains-mia-mcpherson-2232.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, 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