The Western Belted Kingfisher 
I • 
WESTERN BELTED KINGFISHER 
remaining underparts pure white. Bill black, changing to yellow at base of lower 
mandible; feet dark with yellow soles. Adult female: Similar, but with sides, axil- 
laries, and an irregular band across lower breast, cinnamon-rufous. Immature: Like 
adults, except that slaty blue band of chest is heavily mixed with rusty. Length 
317.50-355.6 (12.50-14.00); wing 163 (6.42); tail 92 (3.62); bill 59.3 (2.33); tarsus 11.4 
(.45). Females slightly larger. 
Recognition Marks. —“Kingfisher” size; blue-gray and white coloration; pisca¬ 
torial habits; rattling cry. 
Nesting. — Nest: At end of tunnel in bank, 4 to 6 feet in, unlined. Eggs: 
6 to 8; pure white. Av. size 33.3 x 26.4 (1.31 x 1.04). Season: May; one brood. 
Range of Megaceryle alcyon .—North America and northern South America. 
Breeds from Mackenzie and Labrador south to southern border of the United States; 
winters from British Columbia, Nebraska, Ohio, and Virginia, south through the 
West Indies to Guiana and Colombia. 
Range of M. a. caurina .—Western North America, east to and including the 
Rocky Mountains; breeding from northern Alaska south at least to southern California; 
wintering irregularly from British Columbia south through western Mexico and Lower 
California. 
Distribution in California. —Common migrant both east and west of the 
Sierras. A common breeder in northern portion of the State and along the Sierras to 
Yosemite Valley and Owens Valley; also breeding and possibly sedentary' south, 
regularly, to Santa Barbara, Santa Paula, and Santa Cruz Island. In winter common 
1050 
