Ken Burton wrote:
> I know kingfishers occur in the Puget Sound area year-round, but are
> the breeders resident or do they depart, to be replaced by migrants?
>
> Please use REPLY ALL. Thanks.
>
> Ken Burton
> McKinleyville CA
>
Below is the little bit that Cornell's /Birds of North America/ have to
say on the belted kingfisher. This topic hasn't been well studied and
from what is said here, most of the study has been in the east and
midwest. My impression of the kingfishers around the Puget Sound region
is that they are very territorial and hang around the whole year
defending their property -- but my impressions have very little
scientific validity :-\

Dale

--
Dale Chase
(AKA ravenintherain)
Seattle, Washington
ccorax at blarg.net


*Nature Of Migration*

Generally resricted to areas near open water. Capable of surviving
winter temperatures throughout much of North America if open water (and
hence food) is available; interior populations, particularly in Alaska
and Canada, withdraw entirely. Most U.S. populations are partial
migrants. Age or sex of non-migratory individuals not known.


Timing And Routes Of Migration

Shorelines of the Great Lakes appear to influence movements of
kingfishers in that region; migrants move along lake shores and turn up
major river valleys. In Michigan, where kingfishers are principally
summer residents, spring migration along the shore of Lake Huron occurs
during mid-Apr at a rate of 15 birds/h (Salyer and Lagler 1946
<http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/084/articles/species/084/biblio/bib083>).
In Minnesota, migrants pass up the Mississippi River beginning in late
Mar and continuing through Apr (MJH). In New Hampshire, kingfishers
migrate along the seacoast during the first week in Apr (Carey 1909
<http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/084/articles/species/084/biblio/bib017>),
and in upstate New York they begin to arrive in late Mar (Hoyt 1961
<http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/084/articles/species/084/biblio/bib053>).
In Massachusetts, spring flight occurs mostly in late Apr (Forbush 1927
<http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/084/articles/species/084/biblio/bib032>),
and in the Maritime Provinces it peaks during the last 10 d of Apr
(White 1953
<http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/084/articles/species/084/biblio/bib107>).

Fall migration is more protracted than spring movements. Southward
passage is evident by mid-Sep and continues through Nov. In late Oct,
kingfishers have been observed moving southward along the shore of Lake
Michigan at the rate of 12 birds/h (Salyer and Lagler 1946
<http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/084/articles/species/084/biblio/bib083>).
Offshore ship records have been reported at distances > 645 km from the
Atlantic coast (Scholander 1955
<http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/084/articles/species/084/biblio/bib084>),
but such offshore passage is probably rare.

*Migratory Behavior*

Poorly documented. No evidence of diurnal flocking. Migrants may
establish temporary territories during fall migration (Lincoln 1924
<http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/084/articles/species/084/biblio/bib060>).
Nocturnal migration possible; Sprunt (1954
<http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/084/articles/species/084/biblio/bib091>)
reported that 5 birds struck a lighthouse in the Florida Keys.