322 MANUAL OF PHILIPPINE BIRDS. 
284. HALCYON WINCHELLI Sharpe. 
WINCHELL’S KINGFISHER, 
Halcyon winchelli SHARPE, Tae.. Linn. Soc. (1876), 1, 318, pl. 47; Cat. 
Birds Brit. Mus. (1892), 17, 255; Hand-List (1900), 2, 58; McGrrcor 
and WoRCESTER, Hand-List (1906), 54. 
Halcyon alfredi OUSTALET, Le Natur. (1890), 62 
Basilan (Steere, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Bohol (Mce- 
Gregor); Bongao (Hverett); Cebu (Bourns & Worcester); Mindanao (Everett, 
Koch & Schadenberg, Goodfellow, Celestino); Negros (Whitehead); Romblon 
(Bourns & Worcester); Samar (Steere Exp.) ; Sibuyan (Bourns & Worcester) ; 
Siquijor (Bourns & Worcester); Sulu (Bourns & Worcester); Tablas (Bourns 
& Worcester) ; Tawi Tawi (Hverett, Bourns & Worcester). 
Male.—Above, including wings and tail, deep blue; lores and a narrow 
collar on hind neck chestnut; a band of light blue extending backward 
from above eye and joining its fellow across nape; back, rump, and 
central tail-covérts light silvery blue; sides of head and a small patch 
on each side of breast dark blue; lower parts white; primaries and alula 
black, remainder of wing-feathers edged with blue; tail blue above, black 
below. Bill black, except under part of lower mandible which is white 
near base; feet greenish drab; nails black. Length of a male from 
Basilan, 255; wing, 103; tail, 75; culmen from base, 57; tarsus, 14. 
Female.—Above similar to the male but blacker because of the greater 
restriction of blue on each feather; chestnut collar much wider; below 
white, washed to a greater or less extent with fawn, heaviest on breast, 
usually wanting on middle of abdomen. Length of a female from Basi- 
lan, 255; wing, 102; tail, 75; culmen from base, 54; bill from nostril, 46. 
Young.—A specimen taken in Sibuyan indicates that the young male 
resembles the adult female. 
“A deep-woods form, usually seen perching in trees at a considerable 
distance from the ground, though it goes to the ground to feed. On 
being surprised when feeding it flies up into the trees at once. This 
kingfisher seems to be fully possessed of the idea that it can sing, and 
may often be seen at early morning or dusk, perched 15 meters above 
the ground, and squawking away as if life depended on it. 
“Familiarity with its habits and its note enabled us to procure it in 
many islands where it was not previously known. It is, however, a 
difficult bird to shoot at the best. 
“Tris dark brown; legs and feet hght greenish olive, sometimes yellow- 
ish olive; nails black; bill black except base of lower mandible which is 
usually white; tip of bill sometimes white; food, beetles, grasshoppers, 
spiders, and grubs. 
“Hight males average, 247 in length; wing, 98; tail, 74; culmen, 51; 
tarsus, 13; middle toe with claw, 23. Thirteen females, length, 250; 
wing, 100; tail, 74; culmen, 52; tarsus, 13; middle toe with claw, 24.” 
(Bourns and Worcester MS.) 
