While looking for waterbirds at the Winter/Spring boat launch at Bald Eagle State Park on Saturday, Jan 7, 2012, I noticed a Belted Kingfisher land on the railing of the fishing pier. I heard the rattling call of another kingfisher over my left shoulder. Expecting some action, I focused on the bird perched on the railing and held down the shutter!

The kingfisher on the pier railing is a juvenile (single chest band with patches of rufous on its sides). The attacker is a breeding male (no rufous on its sides). At this time of year, males remain on breeding territory (unless the water is iced over), as the females have migrated south.

The attacker came in low and fast, then began to break his speed, then swooped up to come down over the defender. The defender bolted, and both birds rose several yards above the pier then the victim swooped low over the water with the breeding male in hot pursuit! I was only able to capture middle of the action sequence; the entire timeframe was probably about 10 seconds.

Author's note: (The two images of the approaching attacker were from a different day a bird that was seen at the marina area, but used to illustrate the story).