Kingfishers spot small fish from their perch on a branch or by hovering over the water. When food is in sight, they pull their wings back and dive head first to catch their prey with their beak. When they are back on their perch, they whack the fish on the branch several times to kill it. They may carry the fish to their young or swallow it immediately, head first. In addition to fish they will also catch insects, crayfish, reptiles, and amphibians.
Kingfishers are present in our area year-round unless the winters are unusually harsh.
As long as there is open water in which to catch fish, they do fine. The next time you're out hiking at Merry Lea, watch and listen for this regular inhabitant around our lakes and wetlands.