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!