422 BIRDS OF THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA — PART 2 



182-198 (191.8), tail 113.1-125.4 (120.2), oilmen from base 77.1- 

 86.1 (81.5), tarsus 15.7-17.6 (16.4) mm. 



Females (10 from Nicaragua, Panama, and Colombia), wing 

 188-199 (193.8), tail 118.0-125.7 (122.1), culmen from base 80.0- 

 90.8 (85.0), tarsus 16.0-16.8 (16.4) mm. 



Resident. Widely distributed, and fairly common throughout in 

 the lowlands; less frequent in Chiriqui to 1,280 meters on the lakes, 

 and along the Rio Chiriqui Viejo, near El Volcan. Isla Coiba; 

 Isla Escudo de Veraguas ; Archipielago de las Perlas (islas San Jose, 

 del Rey, Chapera, Canas) . 



This kingfisher in the main is found along the larger rivers, 

 though it wanders casually elsewhere in the lowlands wherever there 

 is water. Occasionally it is found along the coast mainly near the 

 mouths of streams, or around rocky headlands, though in coastal areas 

 it is more frequent in the wider open channels of the mangrove 

 swamps. It is common to see single birds flying high in the air 

 across the land from one suitable haunt to another, when they come 

 to attention often through their repetition of a single harsh note 

 check or chuck. 



Any northerner familiar with the belted kingfisher will recognize 

 this larger species at once from its stocky form, general pattern of 

 markings, crested head, and its similar rattling call, which, however, 

 is uttered more slowly. The ringed kingfisher feeds on fish, occa- 

 sionally also on small crabs. Because of its robust size and wariness 

 it seems to have few enemies. Though once, in a journey by piragua 

 up the Rio Pucro in Darien, as one of these birds flew repeatedly 

 ahead from one lookout perch to another, when it came to rest 

 at the water's edge below a steep wooded slope, as it watched my 

 slowly approaching canoe warily, a barred hawk-eagle dropped down 

 quietly from the tree cover above and seized it. 



The birds when perched rest quietly, occasionally jerking the tail 

 and erecting the crest. The flight is direct, not undulating, but as 

 they move forward the birds tend to veer slightly from side to side 

 of a direct line. In mating display they fly in a great circle high 

 in air, with the body tilted up at a slight angle, while they call with 

 rattling notes. Occasionally, when two or three join in such flights 

 one may carry a small fish. They nest in holes 2 meters or so in 

 length that they dig in steep-sided banks along streams. In these 

 modern times they also may range inland to the earthen walls on 

 grades cut by bulldozers in road construction, though these may 

 be distant from the larger water channels of the normal habitat of 



