Kingfishers (Alcedinidae)

Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) - HBW 6, p. 248

French: Martin-pêcheur d’Amérique German: Gürtelfischer Spanish: Martín Gigante Norteamericano

Taxonomy: Alcedo Alcyon Linnaeus, 1758, South Carolina.
Genus sometimes merged into Ceryle. Forms a superspecies with M. lugubris, M. maxima and M. torquata. Proposed separation of population from W coast as race caurina on basis of larger size is unwarranted, as size is variable across species’ entire range. Monotypic.

Distribution: Aleutian Is and CW Alaska (Seward Peninsula) E through C Canada to Labrador and Newfoundland, and S throughout USA to S California and S Texas and N coast of Gulf of Mexico. Winter range S to E Panama, N Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Galapagos Is and the Caribbean to Trinidad.