Belted Kingfisher, juvenile

This is a Juvenile Belted Kingfisher. These birds are incredibly difficult to approach. I've been watching the adult male for over a year and was lucky when his mate started showing up to fish with him each day. I was really surprised when a third Kingfisher showed up, which I later realized was their chick that they were likely teaching to hunt. These birds perch on snags and trees above the water then dive headfirst into the water to catch fish or invertebrates. I usually hear them before I see them due to their distinctive call. Not only are these birds skittish, they are also loners so they can be tough to locate and observe. This one gave me a little gift by posing in the morning light just long enough to steal a few photos.