FAMILY ALCEDINID^E 



fishers range in size from that of a small song 

 bird to that of a crow, the large head and long, 

 stout tapering, sharply pointed bill, the 

 strikingly and often brilliantly colored plum- 

 age, their active habits and loud, harsh calls 

 make them easy to recognize. Their feet 

 have the third and fourth toes closely joined. 

 The typical kingfishers frequent the vicinity 

 of water, feeding on small fishes which they 

 catch in their bill by plunging after them, 

 though many of the Old World kingfishers 

 frequent woods and other localities far from 

 water, feeding on insects, land snails, lizards, 

 etc. They nest in holes in banks or trees and 

 lay pure white eggs. 



Key to the Kingfishers 



Larger, length over 276 mm. (10.80 in.). 

 b. Upper parts bluish gray. 



c. Very large, length 3.80 mm. (15.00 in.); under- 

 parts mainly chestnut. 



d. Gray band across chest 



Megaceryle t. torquata, female 



dd. No gray band Megaceryle t. torquata, male 



cc. Smaller, length about 305 mm. (12.00 in.); under 

 parts mainly white; gray band across chest. 



d. Chestnut on sides. . Megaceryle a. alcyon, female 



dd. No chestnut on sides 



Megaceryle a. alcyon, male 



bb. Upper parts dark metallic green, under parts mainly 

 white, no chestnut below. 



c. Band of chestnut across chest 



Chloroceryle amazona, male 



cc. Sides of chest dark metallic green 



Chloroceryle amazona, female 



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