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Mexican Species
| Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) | |||
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| Subspecies | |||
| Monotypic: Cent. and e Canada to n S America; W Indies; Trinidad; Tobago | |||
| Endemic status | Not endemic | ||
| Birds (media) | Yes | ||
| Sound Guide | x4x | ||
| Comment |
Molting comments from Peter Pyle at [BIRDWG01]: "I have recently re-examined specimens and images regarding molt strategies in American kingfishers. Previous information (e.g., in BWP and Pyle 1997) is not accurate. The first molt following fledging (what we call the preformative molt) appears to be absent or may include a few body feathers; thus, first feather replacement in most birds is during the second prebasic molt in June-November of the second calendar year (I'm not sure if this would be considered the postjuvenile or first post-breeding molt). Primaries are replaced bidirectionally from p7 such that the last feather replaced is usually the innermost (p1). Secondaries are replaced "centripetally" from either end, with s3 or s4 being last replaced. The second prebasic molt can be incomplete with p1 and or some secondaries among s2-s5 retained. I have yet to figure out molt in the primary coverts but replacement may also be centripetal and involve incomplete replacement during the second prebasic molt, as in woodpeckers. It may include no or few feathers during this molt, as occurs in migratory sapsuckers. Later prebasic molts can also be incomplete, resulting in retained basic primaries, secondaries, and primary coverts in various positions; such patterns indicate 3rd-cycle or later." |
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