Megaceryle Alcyon Research Articles

Context of rattle-call use by adult Belted Kingfishers (Megaceryle alcyon) near their nests

We documented use of rattle calls when adult Belted Kingfishers (Megaceryle alcyon) approached or departed active nest burrows, and contrasted rattle-call use during incubation and nestling phases of nesting. Adults rattled on 92.7% of 109 nest approaches and 56.2% of 105 nest departures (P = 0.021) combining both phases of nesting. During the incubation phase rattling occurred on 81% of 36 approaches and 28% of 32 departures (P < 0.001), and during the nestling phase rattling occurred on 99% of 73 approaches and 69% of 73 departures (P < 0.001). Overall, a significantly lower amount of rattling occurred during the incubation phase, both when approaching and departing the nest. Males and females exhibited similar patterns of rattle-call use at nest burrows during both phases of nesting. We suggest that use of rattle calls is more prevalent when approaching the nest burrow, despite drawing attention to the nest location, to advertise a mate's or parent's presence prior to entering the burrow and to avoid injury from the tending adult or nestlings defending themselves against an unknown intruder. We also suggest that adults are more secretive near the nest burrow during the incubation phase, especially when departing, because of a reduced need to communicate with their mate while tending the eggs during lengthy bouts of nest attendance. Nevertheless, it remains unclear why adults use rattle calls as much as they do when departing from the nest, which appears to unnecessarily advertise the nest location.

PREDATION ON ADULT LONG-TOED SALAMANDERS AND A NORTHERN RED-LEGGED FROG BY A BELTED KINGFISHER ON VANCOUVER ISLAND, BRITISH COLUMBIA: A REVIEW OF DEFENSIVE STRATEGY ADAPTATIONS

A case of predation by a Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) on adult Long-toed Salamanders (Ambystoma macrodactylum) and a Northern Red-legged Frog (Rana aurora) is reported. This general note provides a description of the predation events with photographs of the amphibians being devoured. Additional photographs showing scars in long-toed salamanders are presented and considered in review of types of predatory attacks and defensive strategies. A literature review was completed to identify reported cases of predation on these two amphibian species. We discuss what is known about their anti-predator defensive strategies and what species are involved in the ecological and evolutionary dynamics at play. Traits exhibited by these amphibians are discussed as anti-predator adaptations that include warning colorations, defensive postures, tail dropping, crypsis, and glandular skin secretions that can be adhesive, unpalatable, or toxic. A potentially significant role of avian predators is considered in light of the evidence presented.

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On the marine feeding behavior and activity budgets of Belted Kingfishers (Megaceryle alcyon) during the post-fledging period

Belted Kingfishers (Megaceryle alcyon) are widely distributed across aquatic environments in North America, but their behavior in marine habitats remains understudied, especially during the post-fledging period. We recorded daily activity budgets of adult and fledgling Belted Kingfishers on San Juan Island, Washington, and investigated the effects of tides and age class on feeding behaviors. Feeding attempt rate was highest at high tide, but strike success was highest at low tide. Adults foraged more successfully than juveniles and caught fish almost twice as large, consistent with juvenile inexperience during the post-fledging period. Strike success rates also varied between study sites for both adults and juveniles, potentially reflecting habitat quality. These results improve our understanding of how Belted Kingfishers behave in marine environments, and to our knowledge provide the first study of marine Belted Kingfishers during the post-fledging period. Follow-up studies quantifying prey availability and comparing seasonal behaviors of kingfishers in freshwater and marine habitats may help clarify the mechanisms behind the patterns we observed.

Alcedoffula alcyonae Carriker (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera: Philopteridae) infesting belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon (Linnaeus) (Aves: Coraciiformes, Alcedinidae), in Manitoba, Canada

AbstractForty-one belted kingfishers, Megaceryle alcyon (Linnaeus) (Aves: Coraciiformes: Alcedinidae), from Manitoba, Canada were examined for ectoparasites in 1995–2020. One species of chewing louse, Alcedoffula alcyonae Carriker (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera: Philopteridae), infested 48.8% of hosts. The mean intensity of infestation was 17.1, and mean abundance was 8.5 lice per bird. Distribution of infestation was highly aggregated. Although female lice outnumbered males, the sex ratio was not significantly different from 1.0. The ratio of nymphs to females was 2.6. An unidentified species of feather mite of the genus Proterothrix Gaud (Acari: Astigmatina: Proctophyllodidae) infested three of 35 hosts (8.6%). No mites were found in the quills of primary feathers from 19 birds, and no nasal mites were collected from 32.

North American River Otters Followed by Piscivorous Birds, and a River Otter Parental Distraction Display

We observed 2 Lontra canadensis (North American River Otter), likely an adult female and her nearly-grown pup, on a fall 2018 afternoon at a remote lake in Piscataquis County, ME. We witnessed 2 notable animal behaviors, a possible bird-otter foraging association and a River Otter parental display, serendipitously while canoeing. An Ardea herodias (Great Blue Heron) and a Megaceryle alcyon (Belted Kingfisher) watched and followed the River Otters as they fished along the shore of a small cove of the lake. Although neither bird was seen to strike directly at or eat a fish during this episode, the behavior of the piscivorous birds was suggestive of a foraging association with the River Otters, a novel observation in North America. After fishing, the River Otters began traveling along the lake shore and noticed the canoeing human observers. Upon becoming aware of the canoe, the pup apparently hid as the adult female swam toward the canoe while noisily blowing. She then dove and resurfaced farther away from her pup's last-seen position. This routine was repeated several times until the observers paddled away from the female. Despite the large behavioral repertoire known for otters generally, this parental distraction display has not been previously reported.

Partitioning of Foraging Habitat by Three Kingfishers (Alcedinidae: Cerylinae) along the South Llano River, Texas, USA

Current northward expansion of Ringed Kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata) and Green Kingfisher (Chloroceryle americana) into central Texas places them in aquatic systems with the temperate Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon). Recent contact among the three species provides an opportunity to assess resource partitioning. A 23.5 km stretch of the South Llano River near Junction, Texas, USA was surveyed to determine seasonal abundance and compare foraging perch characteristics among the species. Data were collected on 7 foraging perch characteristics for 250 kingfisher observations across 26 surveys. Mean encounter rate for Green, Belted, and Ringed kingfishers per river kilometer was 0.48, 0.22, and 0.09, respectively. Green Kingfishers were present year-round, while the Belted and Ringed kingfishers were absent or rare from mid-spring to mid-summer. Characteristics of foraging perches were similar among the species with the exception of perch height, with Green Kingfisher having lower perches (142.3 cm ± 126.6 SD) than both Belted (550.8 cm ± 449.4 SD) and Ringed kingfishers (551.1 cm ± 422.7 SD). Mean perch heights of Green Kingfishers averaged higher during surveys when Belted Kingfishers were absent (210.5 cm ± 191.0 SD, n = 36) compared to surveys when Belted Kingfishers were present (124.0 cm ± 89.1 SD, n = 129).

Avifaunal community structure associated to El Conchalito mangrove, BCS, Mexico under different tide conditions

The importance in the study of avian community structure relates to their relevant role in theecosystem. Specially, when they are exposed to collateral damage by anthropogenic activities. The goal of thisresearch was to determine the variation of avian community structure in the mangrove forest El Conchalito, BCSthrough the use of ecological indices such as diversity (H’), dominance (D), and the biological value index (IVB)in April-June of 2016 during the seasonal transition from Spring-Summer. To describe the environmental frame,measurements of temperature, noise level, and chlorophyll a were made, and other climatological data were used.A total of 15 species of aquatic, marine or shore birds were recorded (5 orders, 7 families and 9 genera), and 3species of terrestrial birds (2 orders, 2 families and 3 genera). Maximum bird abundances were observed duringthe first sampling. Diversity values varied between H´= 1.1 and H´= 1.8, with maxima at the beginning and atthe end of the study period. This was related with the low tides and the increase of species richness, respectively.Noise level and chlorophyll a concentration, were not associated directly with the changes observed in the community structure. Species richness was associated directly with temperature increase. The most important birdspecies were: Egretta thula (96.9%), Zenaida asiatica (88.7%), Numenius phaeopus (86.8%), and Egretta rufescens (83.8); less important was Ceryle alcyon (28.2). Three species protected under NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010were identified.

Predation of a Western Water Shrew (&lt;i&gt;Sorex navigator&lt;/i&gt;) by a Belted Kingfisher (&lt;i&gt;Megaceryle alcyon&lt;/i&gt;)

Belted Kingfishers (Megaceryle alcyon) are highly piscivorous and rarely take prey other than fish. Here, I report an observation of a male Belted Kingfisher preying on a Western Water Shrew (Sorex navigator) in a small boreal stream in southwestern Yukon. This observation provides further evidence that Belted Kingfishers will occasionally prey on riparian small mammals when the opportunity arises and points to piscivorous birds as apparently novel predators of shrews.

First documented record of the Belted Kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon (Linnaeus, 1758), in mainland Ecuador

I present the first documented record of the Belted Kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon, in mainland Ecuador. A young male M. alcyon was observed and photographed in the surroundings of Puerto López, province of Manabí, Ecuador in September 2005. A very rare boreal vagrant in mainland Ecuador, M. alcyon was previously known from a single sighting in December 1992 and was a hypothetical species pending corroborating evidence, which is now provided.

First documented record of the Belted Kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon (Linnaeus, 1758), in mainland Ecuador

I present the first documented record of the Belted Kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon, in mainland Ecuador. A young male M. alcyon was observed and photographed in the surroundings of Puerto López, province of Manabí, Ecuador in September 2005. A very rare boreal vagrant in mainland Ecuador, M. alcyon was previously known from a single sighting in December 1992 and was a hypothetical species pending corroborating evidence, which is now provided.

Mercury Hazard Assessment for Piscivorous Wildlife in Glacier National Park

Abstract We examined the mercury hazard posed to selected piscivorous wildlife in Glacier National Park (GNP), Montana. Logging Lake was our focal site where we estimated the dietary mercury concentrations of wildlife (common loon [Gavia immer], American mink [Neovison vison], river otter [Lontra canadensis], and belted kingfisher [Megaceryle alcyon]) by assuming that fishes were consumed in proportion to their relative abundances. To evaluate if Logging Lake provided a suitable baseline for our study, we made geographic comparisons of fish mercury levels and investigated the distribution and abundance of high mercury fishes within GNP. We complimented our assessment by examining selenium:mercury molar ratios in fishes from Logging Lake and Saint Mary Lake. Our results suggest fish consumption does not imperil wildlife from Logging Lake based on published thresholds for adverse mercury effects, but some hazard may exist particularly if there is strong feeding selectivity for the most contaminated species,...

Instream cover and shade mediate avian predation on trout in semi‐natural streams

AbstractPiscivory by birds can be significant, particularly on fish in small streams and during seasonal low flow when available cover from predators can be limited. Yet, how varying amounts of cover may change the extent of predation mortality from avian predators on fish is not clear. We evaluated size‐selective survival of coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii) in replicated semi‐natural stream sections. These sections provided high (0.01 m2 of cover per m2 of stream) or low (0.002 m2 of cover per m2 of stream) levels of instream cover available to trout and were closed to emigration. Each fish was individually tagged, allowing us to track retention of individuals during the course of the 36‐day experiment, which we attributed to survival from predators, because fish had no other way to leave the streams. Although other avian predators may have been active in our system and not detected, the only predator observed was the belted kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon, which is known to prey heavily on fish. In both treatments, trout &gt;20.4 cm were not preyed upon indicating an increased ability to prey upon on smaller individuals. Increased availability of cover improved survival of trout by 12% in high relative to low cover stream sections. Trout also survived better in stream sections with greater shade, a factor we could not control in our system. Collectively, these findings indicate that instream cover and shade from avian predators can play an important role in driving survival of fish in small streams or during periods of low flow.

Air Sac Nematode Monopetalonema alcedinis in a Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) in Maryland, USA

Sporadic and geographically widespread reports of parasites affecting the Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) have been published but few have described details of the pathology. A female, adult kingfisher was found dead in a heavily wooded area of a zoo in Maryland, USA. At necropsy, numerous sexually dimorphic, 4.4-40.5-cm adult Monopetalonema alcedinis nematodes were found tightly wound within the coelomic cavity between organs and completely filling the caudal thoracic and abdominal air sacs. Abundant, 30-60-µm diameter, larvated, thick-walled ova were found in the bronchi and parabronchi, within the mesentery, and in the serosa of multiple coelomic organs. Monopetalonema alcedinis is a characteristic member of the superfamily Diplotriaenoidea, a group of nematodes occurring in birds and reptiles. Infective larvae within an invertebrate intermediate host are ingested and penetrate the intestine, traveling to the lungs and then into the air sacs, where the adult females release eggs. The ova are coughed up by the avian host and passed in feces. Specimens of M. alcedinis have been found in the Belted Kingfisher, although typically intensity of infection is low and infections remain asymptomatic. In contrast, we report the second documented case of high numbers of M. alcedinis resulting in pathologic changes in which parasitism contributed to host mortality.

Plumage Coloration in Belted Kingfishers (Megaceryle alcyon) At a Mercury-contaminated River

Because Belted Kingfishers (Megaceryle alcyon) eat a diet comprised primarily of fish they are a useful indicator species for aquatic contaminants such as mercury. Monitoring efforts generally compare nesting success or tissue contaminant concentrations from contaminated sites with reference sites. In contrast, this study examined subtler potential effects of mercury accumulation by quantifying plumage coloration (structural and melanin based) of nesting adult Belted Kingfishers and relating it to individual mercury concentrations. Mercury exposure was associated with increased brightness of plumage color consistent with the hypothesis that mercury slows the production of melanin. Clear sex differences in the chroma and hue of blue body feathers identified during this study suggest that Belted Kingfishers possesses cryptic dimorphism beyond the rufous “belt,” and thus mercury-induced alterations in blue plumage could reduce fitness.

Attempted predation of a diurnally active Spotted Bat (&lt;em&gt;Euderma maculatum&lt;/em&gt;) by a Belted Kingfisher (&lt;em&gt;Megaceryle alcyon&lt;/em&gt;)

Most species of bats (Chiroptera) are nocturnal, and diurnal activity is only occasionally reported. I observed a Spotted Bat (Euderma maculatum) flying along a lakeshore in the Okanagan Valley of southcentral British Columbia, Canada, in mid-afternoon. The Spotted Bat flew along the shoreline and drank from the lake. During the course of its flight, the Spotted Bat was attacked by a Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon), but it escaped. This is the first reported observation of a Spotted Bat active during the daytime. It is also the first reported observation of attempted predation of a bat by a Belted Kingfisher. It is not known how prevalent daytime activity is in Spotted Bats, but this observation supports the hypothesis that predation risk may be high for bats that are active during the day.

Reproductive success of belted kingfishers on the upper Hudson River

Belted kingfishers (Megaceryle alcyon) are predators in many North American aquatic ecosystems; as such, they are prone to bioaccumulation of certain environmental contaminants. In 2002 and 2004, kingfisher eggs collected near the upper Hudson River in New York had elevated concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and the kingfisher population in this area was reported to be at risk because of PCB exposure. From 2007 to 2009, the authors monitored 69 kingfisher nests on the Hudson River to track both nest success and survival of individual nestlings. The study site consisted of 2 adjacent sections of the Hudson River, 1 upstream and 1 downstream of a historic PCB source. The authors compared models of nest success that differentially incorporated the following 4 variables that they deemed most likely to affect reproductive output: 1) river section (upstream vs downstream of PCB source), 2) year, 3) hatch date, and 4) abandonment by 1 parent. After ranking models according to Akaike's information criterion for small sample sizes, it was clear that parental abandonment was the most important of the factors examined. River section was not an important parameter, and overall nesting success was slightly higher in the PCB-contaminated section than in the upstream area. These findings support the conclusion that kingfisher productivity is not adversely impacted by PCB contamination in the upper Hudson River.

The effects of an environmentally relevant 58‐congener polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) mixture on cardiac development in the chick embryo

Chicken (Gallus domesticus) embryonic exposure in ovo to a 58-congener polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) mixture resulted in teratogenic heart defects in chick embryos at critical heart developmental stages Hamburger-Hamilton (HH) stages 10, 16, and 20. The 58-congener mixture contained relative proportions of primary congeners measured in belted sandpiper (Megaceryle alcyon) and spotted sandpiper (Actitis macularia) eggs collected along the upper Hudson River, New York, USA, and chicken doses were well below observed environmental exposure levels. Embryos were injected with 0.08 µg PCBs/g egg weight and 0.50 µg PCBs/g egg weight (0.01 and 0.064 ng toxic equivalent/g, respectively) at embryonic day 0, prior to incubation. Mortality of exposed embryos was increased at all developmental stages, with a marked rise in cardiomyopathies at HH16 and HH20 (p < 0.05). Heart abnormalities occurred across all treatments, including abnormal elongation and expansion of the heart tube at HH10, improper looping and orientation, indentations in the emerging ventricular wall (HH16 and HH20), and irregularities in overall heart shape (HH10, HH16, and HH20). Histology was conducted on 2 cardiac proteins critical to embryonic heart development, ventricular myosin heavy chain and titin, to investigate potential mechanistic effects of PCBs on heart development, but no difference was observed in spatiotemporal expression. Similarly, cellular apoptosis in the developing heart was not affected by exposure to the PCB mixture. Conversely, cardiomyocyte proliferation rates dramatically declined (p < 0.01) at HH16 and HH20 as PCB exposure concentrations increased. Early embryonic cardiomyocyte proliferation contributes to proper formation of the morphology and overall thickness of the ventricular wall. Therefore, in ovo exposure to this 58-congener PCB mixture at critical stages adversely affects embryonic heart development.

Aerial Ramming, a Burrow Excavation Behavior by Belted Kingfishers, with a Review of its Occurrence among the Alcedinidae

We observed a pair of Belted Kingfishers (Megaceryle alcyon) as they initiated burrow excavation in a bank along Rattlesnake Creek near Missoula, Montana in April 2010. During 180 min of observation on the first three mornings (17–19 Apr) of burrow excavation we observed the kingfishers fly rapidly at the bank from perched or hovering distances of 1–3 m and strike the bank bill-first 176 times, forming a pit in the vertical bank about body-deep after 60 hrs of work. Both sexes performed aerial ramming, at roughly the same rate. On the fourth morning we saw no ramming during 40 min of observation while excavation continued, but the site was abandoned later in the day. Aerial ramming at the start of burrow excavation appeared necessary because (1) the bank was vertical to overhanging without exposed roots, providing no opportunity for the birds to perch at the excavation site when beginning to dig, and (2) the birds seemed unable to strike the substrate with sufficient force to promote excavation while perched on the bank or hovering at the burrow entrance until several days into excavation, perhaps due to the presence of imbedded gravel and cobble in the soil. At least 13 species of kingfishers in the subfamilies Alcedininae and Daceloninae are reported to aerial ram into potential burrow sites (banks, termitaria, trees). Ours appears to be the first report of aerial ramming by the Belted Kingfisher and a member of the subfamily Cerylinae.

Evaluation of habitat quality for selected wildlife species associated with island back channels

The islands and associated back channels on the Ohio River, USA, are believed to provide critical habitat features for several wildlife species. However, few studies have quantitatively evaluated habitat quality in these areas. Our main objective was to evaluate the habitat quality of back and main channel areas for several species using habitat suitability index (HSI) models. To test the effectiveness of these models, we attempted to relate HSI scores and the variables measured for each model with measures of relative abundance for the model species. The mean belted kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon) HSI was greater on the main than back channel. However, the model failed to predict kingfisher abundance. The mean reproduction component of the great blue heron (Ardea herodias) HSI, total common muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) HSI, winter cover component of the snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) HSI, and brood-rearing component of the wood duck (Aix sponsa) HSI were all greater on the back than main channel, and were positively related with the relative abundance of each species. We found that island back channels provide characteristics not found elsewhere on the Ohio River and warrant conservation as important riparian wildlife habitat. The effectiveness of using HSI models to predict species abundance on the river was mixed. Modifications to several of the models are needed to improve their use on the Ohio River and, likely, other large rivers.