Bulletin - United States National Museum - si-pddr - Smithsonian ...

BIEDS OF ARGENTINA, PARAGUAY, URUGUAY, AND CHILE 207
Xilometer 182 (Riacho Pilaga), Formosa, appear similar to skins
from northern South America and Mexico. In a fair series I am
not able to make out the distinctions assigned by Bangs and Penard ^^
when ihej recognized the form from Paraguay as M. t. cyanea
(VieiUot).
The species was encountered only in the northern portion of the
region that I visited. At Resistencia, Chaco, from July 8 to 10,
the ringed kingfisher was recorded in fair numbers, and it was noted
that the breeding season was near, as the birds frequently rose in
pairs or threes to circle about from 60 to 100 meters from the earth,
with slow wing beat and constant calls. At Las Palmas, Chaco,
they were fairly common from July 13 to July 31. Mating was
completed during this period and by the close of the month their
pairing evolutions in the air became infrequent. On July 21 an
occupied nest was found in a cut bank above a small stream, the
Riacho Quia, placed beneath a mass of roots. The entrance hole
was about 140 mm. in diameter and showed along the bottom a
double furrowed track with a ridge 16 mm. high, separating the
two channels made by the feet of the owners. The nest was nearly
2 meters deep and may have contained eggs as both parents circled
near in excitement. The location was such that time did not permit
an excavation.
On Augtist 2 in traveling by steamer up the Rio Paraguay above
Puerto Las Palmas, the large kingfisher was common in pairs.
Frequent cut banks along the streams offered nesting sites. At the
Riacho Pilaga the species was recorded from August 9 to IT, and
several were seen at Formosa, Formosa, August 23 and 24. It was
common along the Paraguay river from September 1 to 3, and
on September 30, near Puerto Pinasco, Paraguay and was recorded
occasionally at Kilometer 80 in the interior from September 7 to 21.
X few were noted on February 6 and 8, 1921, near Lazcano, Uruguay,
along the Rio Cebollati, and one was seen February 19 near
Rio Negro, Uruguay.
The usual call note of the ringed kingfisher is a harsh chuck or
check varied at times by a rattle, both calls so similar to notes of
some of the woodpeckers as to suggest those birds whenever they
are heard. The flight is strong and vigorous and in actions and
appearance these birds are suggestive of the belted kingfisher of
the north.
CHLOROCERYLE AMAZONA (Latham)
Alcedo amazona Latham, Index Orn., vol. 1, 1790, p. 257. (Cayenne.)
Near Las Palmas, Chaco, this species was recorded at intervals
from July 17 to 30, and an adult male was taken July 17. The
"Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 62, April, 1918, p. 53.