Megaceryle alcyon

Primarily along water, both freshwater and marine, including lakes, streams, wooded creeks and rivers, seacoasts, bays, estuaries, and mangroves. Perches in trees, on over hanging branches, posts and utility wires. At night, roosts high in a leafy tree near water (Fry and Fry 1992). In some areas availability of foraging sites may be more limiting than the availability of nest sites. BREEDING: Typically nests in a burrow dug by both sexes in the bank of a creek, river, lake, pond, gravel or sand pit, or embankment of a road or railroad; usually but not always near water. Rarely may nest in sawdust heap or tree hole.

Generally occurs singly or in pairs. In New Brunswick, densities reach 10 individuals per 1600 m of farmland stream (see Fry and Fry 1992). Foraging is usually within 1.6 km of nest, up to 8 km (Cornwell 1963). Lakeside territories average 0.8 km of shoreline, up to 2.4 km; river territories average 2.4 to 4.8 km of river length (Salyer and Lagler 1946).

Egg laying months: April-July in Ontario, May-June in New York, April-June in Louisiana (Fry and Fry 1992). Clutch size 5-8 (usually 6-7). Incubation 23-24 days, by both sexes. Broods average 4. Young leave nest at 30-35 days. One brood/year, though replacement clutches may be laid. Pairs nest solitarily. On Lake Hasca, Minnesota, 14 nesting pairs occupied an area of 65 sq km (see Fry and Fry 1992).