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Bird

Belted Kingfisher

Megaceryle alcyon

Lives in West Virginia all year and nests here. Found in all 55 counties, across 14 habitats.

Here
All year
Nesting
Nests here
Range
All 55 counties
Habitats
14

At a glance

Group
Birds
Here
All year
Nesting
Nests here
Range
All 55 counties
Habitats
14
Habitat models
Summer, Winter

Where it lives

The places its habitat model includes. It is not found everywhere a habitat occurs.

Habitats in West Virginia 14

Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

1 of 14

Swamps

The Chickahominy Swamp LCCN2004661405
SummerWinterCentral Interior and Appalachian Swamp SystemsWilliam McIlvaine, The Chickahominy Swamp (1862): wind-tossed swamp trees standing in dark water under a storm. Shown: Chickahominy Swamp, Virginia, a neighboring state.The Chickahominy Swamp LCCN2004661405, William McIlvaine (1813-1867), 1862. Public domain. Source record.

Disturbed and introduced wetlands

Wet ground taken over by weedy or introduced plants after disturbance, such as common reed, Chinese tallow or tamarisk stands; the upland counterpart is roadsides, fields and disturbed ground.

SummerWinter

Floodplain and bottomland forests

Forests on low ground beside rivers and streams that flood from time to time.

SummerWinterCentral Appalachian Floodplain - Forest Modifier; Central Appalachian Riparian - Forest Modifier; South-Central Interior Large Floodplain - Forest Modifier; Central Interior and Appalachian Floodplain Systems; Central Interior and Appalachian Riparian Systems; South-Central Interior Small Stream and Riparian; South-Central Interior Large Floodplain

Ponds, lakes and their shores

Still water and its edges: ponds, lakes, millponds and reservoirs.

SummerWinterOpen Water (Fresh)

Streams, rivers and their banks

Flowing water and its banks, bars and rocky shoals.

SummerWinterCentral Interior and Appalachian Riparian Systems; South-Central Interior Small Stream and Riparian

Forest edges and thickets

Landscape label QS:Lit,"Paesaggio" label QS:Lhu,"Tájkép" label QS:Lca,"Paisatge" label QS:Lde,"Landschaft" label QS:Lpt,"Paisagem" label QS:Lda,"Landskab" label QS:Lsl,"Krajina" label QS:Lja,"風景" label QS:Lsv,"Landskap" label QS:Lpl,"Pejzaż" label QS:Luk,"Пейзаж" label QS:Lnl,"Landschap" label QS:Les,"Paisaje" label QS:Ltr,"Manzara" label QS:Lfi,"Maisema" label QS:Len,"Landscape" label QS:Lfr,"Paysage" label QS:Lmk,"Предел" label QS:Lru,"Пейзаж"
SummerWinterOnly within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.Disturbed/Successional - Shrub Regeneration; Harvested Forest - Shrub RegenerationPaul Sawyier, Landscape: young trees and shrubs in autumn colour crowding the rocky edge of a Kentucky woodland. Regional view: the painting does not name the exact site. Shown: Kentucky (Paul Sawyier, Landscape; Johnson Collection), a neighboring state.Landscape label QS:Lit,"Paesaggio" label QS:Lhu,"Tájkép" label QS:Lca,"Paisatge" label QS:Lde,"Landschaft" label QS:Lpt,"Paisagem" label QS:Lda,"Landskab" label QS:Lsl,"Krajina" label QS:Lja,"風景" label QS:Lsv,"Landskap" label QS:Lpl,"Pejzaż" label QS:Luk,"Пейзаж" label QS:Lnl,"Landschap" label QS:Les,"Paisaje" label QS:Ltr,"Manzara" label QS:Lfi,"Maisema" label QS:Len,"Landscape" label QS:Lfr,"Paysage" label QS:Lmk,"Предел" label QS:Lru,"Пейзаж", Paul Sawyier, c. 1890-1917. Public domain. Source record.

Moist forests

Woods Scene
SummerWinterOnly within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.Southern and Central Appalachian Cove Forest; South-Central Interior Mesophytic ForestHarvey Joiner, Woods Scene: tall beeches in a moist Kentucky woodland, light falling through a closed canopy onto a damp forest floor. Regional view: the painting does not name the exact site. Shown: Kentucky beech woods (Harvey Joiner, Louisville painter of Kentucky beech forests; the painting does not name the site), a neighboring state.Woods Scene, Harvey Joiner, c. 1880-1920. Public domain. Source record.

Dry forests and woodlands

Forests and open woodlands on dry ridges and slopes, often oak or pine.

SummerWinterOnly within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.Southern and Central Appalachian Oak Forest - Xeric; Allegheny-Cumberland Dry Oak Forest and Woodland - Hardwood; Central Appalachian Oak and Pine Forest; Central Appalachian Pine-Oak Rocky Woodland; Southern Appalachian Montane Pine Forest and Woodland

Granite and other acidic rock outcrops

Bare or thin-soil rock on granite, gneiss, sandstone, quartzite and similar acidic rock, including granite flatrocks and domes.

SummerOnly within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.North-Central Appalachian Acidic Cliff and Talus; Southern Interior Acid Cliff

Hemlock forests

Shady, evergreen forests of eastern or Carolina hemlock, often along rocky mountain streams and in gorges.

SummerWinterOnly within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.Appalachian Hemlock-Hardwood Forest

Moderately dry forests

Forests between dry and moist, often oak-hickory on slopes.

SummerWinterOnly within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest; Southern and Central Appalachian Oak Forest

Rich cove forests

Sheltered, moist mountain hollows and lower slopes with deep, fertile soil.

SummerWinterOnly within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.Southern and Central Appalachian Cove Forest

Spruce-fir forests

Cool, evergreen forests of red spruce and Fraser fir on the highest mountains.

SummerWinterOnly within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.

Tree plantations and managed pine

Planted or intensively managed stands of pine or hardwoods grown for timber; a land use rather than a natural community.

SummerWinterOnly within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.Deciduous Plantation; Evergreen Plantation or Managed Pine; Managed Tree Plantation
Other habitats in its models (152)

Land cover, or classes with no habitat page in West Virginia. Those recorded in West Virginia first, the rest by region.

In West Virginia 1

  • North-Central Appalachian Circumneutral Cliff and Talus Summer, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
Elsewhere in the South (86)
  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain Interdunal Wetland Summer and winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Brownwater Stream Floodplain Forest Summer and winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Central Fresh-Oligohaline Tidal Marsh Summer and winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Central Maritime Forest Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Central Salt and Brackish Tidal Marsh Summer and winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Dry and Dry-Mesic Oak Forest Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Embayed Region Tidal Freshwater Marsh Summer and winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Embayed Region Tidal Salt and Brackish Marsh Summer and winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Indian River Lagoon Tidal Marsh Summer and winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Large Natural Lakeshore Summer and winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Mesic Hardwood and Mixed Forest Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Northern Tidal Wooded Swamp Summer and winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Peatland Pocosin Summer and winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Small Blackwater River Floodplain Forest Summer and winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Small Brownwater River Floodplain Forest Summer and winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Southern Maritime Forest Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Southern Tidal Wooded Swamp Summer and winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Xeric River Dune Summer and winter.
  • Central and Southern Appalachian Northern Hardwood Forest Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Central Florida Herbaceous Pondshore Summer and winter.
  • Central Interior Highlands Calcareous Glade and Barrens Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Central Interior Highlands Dry Acidic Glade and Barrens Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Crosstimbers Oak Forest and Woodland Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Limestone Forest Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Maritime Forest Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Loess Bluff Forest Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Mesic Hardwood Forest Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Savanna and Wet Prairie Summer and winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Small Stream and River Floodplain Forest Summer and winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Loess Bluff Forest Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Mesic Slope Forest Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Tidal Wooded Swamp Summer and winter.
  • Florida Big Bend Fresh-Oligohaline Tidal Marsh Summer and winter.
  • Florida Big Bend Salt-Brackish Tidal Marsh Summer and winter.
  • Lower Mississippi River Dune Woodland and Forest Summer and winter.
  • Lower Mississippi River Flatwoods Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Mississippi River Bottomland Depression Summer and winter.
  • Mississippi River Low Floodplain (Bottomland) Forest Summer and winter.
  • Mississippi River Riparian Forest Summer and winter.
  • Mississippi Sound Salt and Brackish Tidal Marsh Summer and winter.
  • Northern Crowley's Ridge Sand Forest Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Ozark-Ouachita Dry Oak Woodland Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Ozark-Ouachita Dry-Mesic Oak Forest Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Ozark-Ouachita Mesic Hardwood Forest Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Ozark-Ouachita Riparian Summer and winter.
  • Ozark-Ouachita Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest and Woodland Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Red River Large Floodplain Forest Summer and winter.
  • South Florida Bayhead Swamp Summer and winter.
  • South Florida Cypress Dome Summer and winter.
  • South Florida Everglades Sawgrass Marsh Summer and winter.
  • South Florida Freshwater Slough and Gator Hole Summer and winter.
  • South Florida Hardwood Hammock Summer and winter.
  • South Florida Mangrove Swamp Summer and winter.
  • South Florida Wet Marl Prairie Summer and winter.
  • South-Central Interior / Upper Coastal Plain Wet Flatwoods Summer and winter.
  • Southeast Florida Coastal Strand and Maritime Hammock Summer and winter.
  • Southeastern Interior Longleaf Pine Woodland Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Southern Appalachian Low Mountain Pine Forest Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Southern Appalachian Montane Cliff Summer, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Southern Coastal Plain Blackwater River Floodplain Forest Summer and winter.
  • Southern Coastal Plain Dry Upland Hardwood Forest Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Southern Coastal Plain Hydric Hammock Summer and winter.
  • Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Cypress Dome Summer and winter.
  • Southern Coastal Plain Seepage Swamp and Baygall Summer and winter.
  • Southern Crowley's Ridge Mesic Loess Slope Forest Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Southern Interior Low Plateau Dry-Mesic Oak Forest Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Southern Piedmont Cliff Summer, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-(Pine) Forest Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Southern Piedmont Mesic Forest Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Southern Piedmont Small Floodplain and Riparian Forest Summer and winter.
  • Southern Ridge and Valley Dry Calcareous Forest Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Southwest Florida Coastal Strand and Maritime Hammock Summer and winter.
  • Tamaulipan Calcareous Thornscrub Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Tamaulipan Mixed Deciduous Thornscrub Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Chenier and Upper Texas Coastal Fringe Forest and Woodland Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Large River Floodplain Forest Summer and winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Mesic Hardwood Forest Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Large River Swamp Summer and winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Pine-Hardwood Flatwoods Winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Pine-Hardwood Forest Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Sandhill Oak and Shortleaf Pine Forest and Woodland Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Small Stream and River Forest Summer and winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Upland Longleaf Pine Forest and Woodland Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Western Great Plains Mesquite Woodland and Shrubland Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
Northeast (8)
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Northern Fresh and Oligohaline Tidal Marsh Summer and winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Northern Maritime Forest Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Northern Tidal Salt Marsh Summer and winter.
  • Central Appalachian Alkaline Glade and Woodland Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • North-Central Interior Wet Flatwoods Summer and winter.
  • Northeastern Interior Pine Barrens Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Basin Swamp and Wet Hardwood Forest Summer and winter.
  • Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Dry Hardwood Forest Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
Midwest (7)
  • Central Interior Calcareous Cliff and Talus Summer, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • North-Central Interior Beech-Maple Forest Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • North-Central Interior Dry Oak Forest and Woodland Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • North-Central Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest and Woodland Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • North-Central Interior Maple-Basswood Forest Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • North-Central Interior Oak Savanna Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • North-Central Oak Barrens Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
Land cover and other classes (50)
  • Allegheny-Cumberland Dry Oak Forest and Woodland - Pine Modifier Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Blackwater Stream Floodplain Forest - Forest Modifier Summer and winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Clay-Based Carolina Bay Forested Wetland Summer and winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Clay-Based Carolina Bay Herbaceous Wetland Summer and winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Depression Pondshore Summer and winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Fall-Line Sandhills Longleaf Pine Woodland - Loblolly Modifier Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Fall-line Sandhills Longleaf Pine Woodland - Offsite Hardwood Modifier Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Fall-line Sandhills Longleaf Pine Woodland - Open Understory Modifier Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Fall-line Sandhills Longleaf Pine Woodland - Scrub/Shrub Understory Modifier Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Nonriverine Swamp and Wet Hardwood Forest - Oak Dominated Modifier Summer and winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Nonriverine Swamp and Wet Hardwood Forest - Taxodium/Nyssa Modifier Summer and winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Streamhead Seepage Swamp - Pocosin - and Baygall Summer and winter.
  • Central Interior and Appalachian Shrub-Herbaceous Wetland Systems Summer and winter.
  • Developed, Low Intensity Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest - Hardwood Modifier Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest - Mixed Modifier Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland - Loblolly Modifier Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland - Offsite Hardwood Modifier Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland - Open Understory Modifier Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland - Scrub/Shrub Modifier Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Large River Floodplain Forest - Forest Modifier Summer and winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Large River Floodplain Forest - Herbaceous Modifier Summer and winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest - Offsite Pine Modifier Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Loess Plain Oak-Hickory Upland - Hardwood Modifier Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Loess Plain Oak-Hickory Upland - Juniper Modifier Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Depression Pondshore Summer and winter.
  • Eastern Great Plains Floodplain Systems Summer and winter.
  • Florida Longleaf Pine Sandhill - Open Understory Modifier Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Florida Longleaf Pine Sandhill - Scrub/Shrub Understory Modifier Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Gulf and Atlantic Coastal Plain Tidal Marsh Systems Summer and winter.
  • Introduced Upland Vegetation - Treed Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Lower Mississippi River Bottomland Depressions - Forest Modifier Summer and winter.
  • Northeastern Interior Dry Oak Forest - Mixed Modifier Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Northeastern Interior Dry Oak Forest - Virginia/Pitch Pine Modifier Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Northeastern Interior Dry Oak Forest-Hardwood Modifier Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Open Water (Brackish/Salt) Summer and winter.
  • South-Central Interior Large Floodplain - Herbaceous Modifier Summer and winter.
  • Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-(Pine) Forest - Hardwood Modifier Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-(Pine) Forest - Loblolly Pine Modifier Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-(Pine) Forest - Mixed Modifier Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-Heath Forest - Mixed Modifier Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Southern Piedmont Large Floodplain Forest - Forest Modifier Summer and winter.
  • Southern Ridge and Valley Dry Calcareous Forest - Pine modifier Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Tamaulipan Mesquite Upland Scrub Summer and winter, only within 60 m of water, for banks and other nest sites.
  • Tamaulipan Riparian Systems Summer and winter.
  • Unconsolidated Shore Summer and winter.
  • Unconsolidated Shore (Beach/Dune) Summer and winter.
  • Unconsolidated Shore (Lake/River/Pond) Summer and winter.
  • Western Great Plains Depressional Wetland Systems Summer and winter.
  • Western Great Plains Floodplain Systems Summer and winter.
  • Forests can border streams with steep banks used for nesting; this is why the model includes upland forest classes.
  • The GAP model connects this bird with water-associated settings.
  • The GAP model includes floodplain forests and applies water-related conditions. Its separate steep-bank nesting note explains upland forest classes.

All habitats

Seasons in West Virginia

  • Year-round: nests here, in all 55 counties.

Also found in its main habitats

Its main habitats in West Virginia, by how much of its habitat model each one is, with the birds most characteristic of each and the plants that grow wild there. Shared habitat, not food.

Belted Kingfisher uses many habitats in West Virginia; these are its 3 most characteristic.

Floodplain and bottomland forests

Birds 104

Plants 303

All of floodplain and bottomland forests in West Virginia

Dry forests and woodlands

Birds 89

Plants 192

All of dry forests and woodlands in West Virginia

Tree plantations and managed pine

Birds 62

Plants 1

All of tree plantations and managed pine in West Virginia

USGS Gap Analysis Project habitat models.

Sources