Ceryle alcyon

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
Ceryle alcyon
    n 1: greyish-blue North American kingfisher with a chestnut band
         on its chest [syn: {belted kingfisher}, {Ceryle alcyon}]
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Kingfisher \King"fish`er\ (k[i^]ng"f[i^]sh`[~e]r), n. (Zool.)
   Any one of numerous species of birds constituting the family
   {Alcedinid[ae]}. Most of them feed upon fishes which they
   capture by diving and seizing them with the beak; others feed
   only upon reptiles, insects, etc. About one hundred and fifty
   species are known. They are found in nearly all parts of the
   world, but are particularly abundant in the East Indies.
   [1913 Webster]

   Note: The belted king-fisher of the United States ({Ceryle
         alcyon}) feeds upon fishes. It is slate-blue above,
         with a white belly and breast, and a broad white ring
         around the neck. A dark band crosses the breast. The
         common European species ({Alcedo ispida}), which is
         much smaller and brighter colored, is also a fisher.
         See {Alcedo}. The wood kingfishers ({Halcyones}), which
         inhabit forests, especially in Africa, feed largely
         upon insects, but also eat reptiles, snails, and small
         Crustacea, as well as fishes. The giant kingfisher of
         Australia feeds largely upon lizards and insects. See
         {Laughing jackass}, under {Laughing}.
         [1913 Webster]
    

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