342 



MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 



the Kingfisher and the feet very small, while the Blue Jay has a moderate 

 bill and large feet. 



Distribution. — North America, from the Arctic Ocean south to Panama 

 and the West Indies, Breeds from the southern border of the United 

 States northward. 



In Michigan the Kingfisher is universally distributed, and though nowhere 

 abundant is so conspicuous in plumage and note that it may always be 

 readily found. It frequents 

 the borders of ponds, 

 streams, large and small, 

 and the Great Lakes, and 

 is frequently to be seen 

 perched upon the pile of a 

 wharf, the mast or boom 

 of a vessel, the peak of a 

 boat-house, a dead stub ' 

 standing in the water, or the 

 overhanging branch of some 

 convenient tree. The note 

 is a vigorous and prolonged 

 rattle, startlingly loud and 

 harsh when close at hand, 

 but not unpleasant when 

 heard at a distance. It is 

 not to be mistaken for the 

 call of any other bird and 

 bears a close resemblance to Fig. gy. Kingfisher. 



the sound made by the old- From Hoffmann's Guide. Courtesy of Houghton, Mifflin & Co. 

 fashioned watchman's rattle. 



In fishing the Kingfisher poises on quickly beating wings at a height of from 

 ten to twenty-five feet above the surface of the water, with the body at an 

 angle of perhaps 45°, but the bill pointed downward and the eyes scanning an 

 the water intently, watching for the approach of a fish toward the surface. 

 When a favorable opportunity presents itself the wings are partially closed 

 and the bird drops head foremost into the water with a splash, usually 

 capturing the small fish in the bill. Sometimes this is swallowed at 

 once, but more often it is carried away to some nearby perch where it is 

 beaten for a few moments until dead, and then either swallowed entire 

 or carried away to the nest to be fed to mate or young. 



The nest is always a burrow in a bank of sand, gravel, or gravel and clay, 

 sometimes only three or four feet in length, but more often 'from five to 

 eight feet. At the end of the burrow is a somewhat 

 enlarged chamber where the eggs are laid, often on 

 the bare sand, but frequently on a collection of scales 

 and bones of fish, the shells of crayfish, or similar 

 skeletal material which has been ejected as pellets by 

 the birds. The eggs vary in number from four to 

 eight, but are commonly about six. They are pure 

 white, unspotted,' and usually'a short oval, sometimes 

 approaching the spherical. They average 1.36 by 

 1.05 inches. 



The food of the" Kingfisher consists very largely of 

 fish, which are mainly the young of shallow water species, principally 



^S>-^ 



Foot of Kingfisher. 

 (Original 



