Ringed Kingfisher Megaceryle torquata
(aka Ceryle torquata )

Brazilian name:martim-pescador-grande
Colombian name: Martín-pescador Grande
Ringed Kingfisher, Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil, December 2006 - click for a larger image Brazil, Colombia and Peru

The Ringed Kingfisher is distributed from southern Texas through Central America and throughout most of South America below about 1,000 metres. See the distribution map at Birdlife International. It is found beside large water bodies including wide rivers and is also seen at the coast.

The female seen here in photos 2, 3 on the right, 4, 5, 6 and 7, has a broad grey chest band above the rufous belly rather than the all rufous underparts of the male.

Ringed Kingfisher, Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil, December 2006 - click for a larger image They feed mainly on fish although, when the waters are murky, they sometimes hunt insects. They have also been observed catching Swallow-tailed Hummingbirds Eupetomena macroura on a couple of occasions.

When underwater, they use their wings by rowing and using them as rudders.

Ringed Kingfisher, Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil, December 2006 - click for a larger image Their small feet are too small for swimming and their toes show syndactylism - a fancy word meaning that the 3rd and 4th toes are joined up the middle.
Ringed Kingfisher, Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil, December 2006 - click for a larger image
Ringed Kingfisher, Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil, December 2006 - click for a larger image
Ringed Kingfisher, Aguas de São Pedro, São Paulo, Brazil, December 2006 - click for a larger image
Ringed Kingfisher, Otún- Quimbaya, Risaralda, Colombia, April 2012 - click for a larger image
Ringed Kingfisher, Otún- Quimbaya, Risaralda, Colombia, April 2012 - click for a larger image
Ringed Kingfisher, Chaparri, Lambayeque, Peru, October 2018 - click for a larger image
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