The Belted Kingfisher has small, syndactyl feet—meaning two of its toes are partially fused together! Unlike wading birds or raptors, kingfishers don't rely on their feet for catching prey. Instead, they dive headfirst into water for fish, using those unique feet mainly for perching and digging nesting burrows.
The Belted Kingfisher has a large head and powerful bill. It has a beak like pincers that it uses to grab its prey and then beat it against its perch. Once the Belted Kingfisher has killed or stunned its prey, it will maneuver it with its beak until it slides down its throat headfirst.
