Field Marks: 13 in. A large headed bird with bushy crest and spear-shaped bill; frequents streams, rivers, tidal inlets, shorelines, and lakes throughout North America south of the artic. Hovers over small fish, then plunge-dives headfirst into water. Often perches on exposed snags and pilings. Excavates nest burrow in steep banks. Flies with rapid, deep irregular wingbeats. Males gray-blue above, white below, with broad gray-blue breast band. Female has a second rust-colored band on upper belly. Call a loud, harsh, stacatto rattle.
Range: Breeds from Alaska east to Newfoundland and south to central California and Gulf Coast. Winters on open water from se. Alaska east to Nova Scotia and south to South America.