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To the Beauty of Birds

The Ringed Kingfisher Megaceryle torquata, is a large, conspicuous and noisy kingfisher commonly found along the lower Rio Grande River valley in southeasternmost Texas through Central America to Tierra del Fuego in South America.
The breeding habitat is areas near large bodies of water, usually in heavily wooded areas where it finds a perch to hunt from. It is mostly a sedentary species, remaining in territories all year long.
Its most distinguishing characteristic is the entire rufous belly, which also covers the entire breast of the male. Females are more colorful than the male (i.e., reverse sexual dimorphism) and have a bluish-gray breast and a narrow white stripe separating the breast from the belly.

These were photographed at Cano Negro and the Taracoles River.

Ringed KF