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Kingfisher

A digital exhibit and guide

Introduction

The belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon (Linn.), is the only species in the family Alcedinidae or the order Coraciiformes found in Illinois.  Illinois is home to breeding populations, and kingfishers can be seen here year around. The consideration of the belted kIngfisher as the mascot for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers an opportunity for Funk ACES Library to highlight resources for finding information about this magnificent Illinois bird and its relatives. 

We invite you to reach out to us at Funk Library if you need help finding information on the biology and natural history of kingfishers or any other organisms!

Images from Biodiversity Heritage Library

Color engraving of a belted kingfisher perched on a stick with a fish

From A Natural History of Birds : Most of Which Have Not Been Figur'd or Describ'd, and Others Very Little Known from Obscure or Too Brief Descriptions without Figures, or from Figures Very Ill Design'd. London : Printed for the author at the College of Physicians in Warwick-Lane, [1743-1751] 

Digitized for the Biodiversity Heritage Library by the Smithsonian Libraries.

The Kingfisher Mascot Campaign


Recent news via Google News

Species accounts and more

Taxonomy and Classification

Historic accounts

Illinois Data

Search the literature

Kingfisher research from the University of Illinois

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