Belted Kingfisher equal parts beauty and legend

There's a bird of mythic fame in our midst. It's a symbol of peace, and it wards off bad weather.

The bird in question? The Belted Kingfisher. Of our winter birds, the Kingfisher one of the most striking in appearance, and its habits, ecology, and folklore are equally impressive.

This aviator is hard to miss if you know what to look and listen for. You may hear its noisy flight call - often described as a "dry rattle" - before you see it. When you do spot the bird, you'll see a shaggy crest on the top of a large head and a no-nonsense bill for spearing fish. Its bright blue head and back contrast with a white throat and collar highlighted by a blue breast band. The female Kingfisher, unlike females of other bird species, is more brightly colored than the male. She sports rufous, or rusty red, coloring that is lacking in the male.

With an oversized head and enormous bill, you'd think this bird couldn't possibly stay airborne. But the Kingfisher owns the airspace like a Navy jet over the water. You'll see it swoop, rise, hover, and then plunge into the water's surface. More often than not, it will come up with its quarry.

As its name implies, the Kingfisher is a pro at catching fish. It may also include crayfish and other aquatic morsels in its diet. With keen eyesight, the Kingfisher watches from a promontory above the water and then, in a swift tactical maneuver, the bird dive bombs its prey. After emerging with a fish in its bill, the Kingfisher absconds to its perch where it pounds the hapless victim. Thus immobilizing its prey, the Kingfisher positions the fish in its bill and swallows it whole.

Its penchant for sushi keeps the Kingfisher busy wherever there's open water in the winter. Warmer winters and water treatment plants have provided more open water, and the Belted Kingfisher is becoming a common sight along the Fox River in winter. Nesting sites, too, have become more favorable with human development in some areas. Kingfishers are reported to establish territories near construction sites, in road cuts and in quarries with water.

The scientific name for the Belted Kingfisher, Ceryle alcyon, hearkens to Greek mythology. The legendary maiden Halcyone married a sailor named Ceyex who went out to sea soon after they wed. Halcyone waited and watched for him from shore day after day with anxious longing. Alas, Ceyex succumbed to the wrath of the stormy seas, and after many months his body washed ashore. Overcome with grief, Halycone hurled her body into the ocean. The gods took note of her undying love and turned both Halcyone and Ceyex into Kingfishers. They rose together from the sea and, as in all good stories, lived happily ever after.

But that's not all! In honor of the couples' love, the gods who turned the young lovers into Kingfishers commanded that the seas be still for seven days before and seven days after the winter solstice. Whence the expression "Halcyon Days," referring to the tranquil conditions at sea around the winter solstice.

The Belted Kingfisher is a wonderful bird to enjoy in winter. The sight of one can brighten the dullest of winter days. Listen for its call and watch for it over the Fox River this season.

• Celebrate the winter solstice on land with a Winter Solstice Walk on Sunday, December 21 from 4 to 5 p.m. at Tekakwitha Woods in St. Charles. Sponsored by the Kane County Forest Preserve District, this annual walk is a wonderful way to learn about winter wildlife as the sun sets on the shortest day of the year. District naturalists will point out how animals and plants respond to daylength, and how cultures across the world have also responded to the change in daylight. All ages are welcome on this free guided hike. Please call (847) 741-8350 to register.