Halcyon winchelli Sharpe, Trans. Linn. Soc. (1876), 1, 318, pl. 47;
Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1892), 17, 255; Hand-List (1900), 2, 58;
McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 54.
Halcyon alfredi Oustalet, Le Natur. (1890), 62.
Basilan (Steere, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor);
Bohol (McGregor); Bongao (Everett); Cebu (Bourns & Worcester);
Mindanao (Everett, Koch & Schadenberg, Goodfellow, Celestino);
Negros (Whitehead); Romblon (Bourns & Worcester); Samar (Steere
Exp.); Sibuyan (Bourns & Worcester); Siquijor (Bourns & Worcester);
Sulu (Bourns & Worcester); Tablas (Bourns & Worcester); Tawi Tawi
(Everett, Bourns & Worcester).
Male.--Above, including wings and tail, deep blue; lores and a narrow
collar on hind neck chestnut; a band of light blue extending backward
from above eye and joining its fellow across nape; back, rump, and
central tail-coverts light silvery blue; sides of head and a small
patch on each side of breast dark blue; lower parts white; primaries
and alula black, remainder of wing-feathers edged with blue; tail blue
above, black below. Bill black, except under part of lower mandible
which is white near base; feet greenish drab; nails black. Length of
a male from Basilan, 255; wing, 103; tail, 75; culmen from base, 57;
tarsus, 14.
Female.--Above similar to the male but blacker because of the greater
restriction of blue on each feather; chestnut collar much wider;
below white, washed to a greater or less extent with fawn, heaviest
on breast, usually wanting on middle of abdomen. Length of a female
from Basilan, 255; wing, 102; tail, 75; culmen from base, 54; bill
from nostril, 46.
Young.--A specimen taken in Sibuyan indicates that the young male
resembles the adult female.
"A deep-woods form, usually seen perching in trees at a considerable
distance from the ground, though it goes to the ground to feed. On
being surprised when feeding it flies up into the trees at once. This
kingfisher seems to be fully possessed of the idea that it can sing,
and may often be seen at early morning or dusk, perched 15 meters
above the ground, and squawking away as if life depended on it.
"Familiarity with its habits and its note enabled us to procure it
in many islands where it was not previously known. It is, however,
a difficult bird to shoot at the best.
"Iris dark brown; legs and feet light greenish olive, sometimes
yellowish olive; nails black; bill black except base of lower mandible
which is usually white; tip of bill sometimes white; food, beetles,
grasshoppers, spiders, and grubs.
"Eight males average, 247 in length; wing, 98; tail, 74; culmen, 51;
tarsus, 13; middle toe with claw, 23. Thirteen females, length, 250;
wing, 100; tail, 74; culmen, 52; tarsus, 13; middle toe with claw,
24." (Bourns and Worcester MS.)