Comments on: Why do female Belted Kingfishers have an extra rust-colored “belt” that the males don’t have?

By: Quokka

Quokka — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 20:27:00 +0000

My theory is that it acts as camouflage. Think about it, a big white patch is pretty visible. But it becomes less visible with a brown streak going through it. This makes females less visible to predators, and therefore less likely to get eaten, and more likely to mate. – Jordan Hirschhorn (me)

By: George McFly

George McFly — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 01:48:00 +0000

Cool, was wondering this myself.

By: Bob

Bob — Sat, 29 Aug 2015 01:10:00 +0000

In reply to Fred Turner. It probably does if you're a kingfisher. If YOU don't care, why did you bother to read (presumably) the article and comment? Geez...

By: Bob

Bob — Sat, 29 Aug 2015 01:08:00 +0000

In reply to Southern Belle. Because god had nothing better to do? I guess creating a badly placed anus, poorly designed knees and back, and a tiny birth canal (in women) was another joke on mankind to also confound scientists.

By: xtxman

xtxman — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 17:17:00 +0000

Their Latin name is Mega Ceryle ie “big head” and Alcyon ie “the best, peaceful times in a life.” Look up halcyon in the dictionary and read about the fable. Mike

By: Michtou

Michtou — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 15:45:00 +0000

In reply to Bhooma Kumari. Not all animals...most mammals only have a size difference between male and female.

By: Michtou

Michtou — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 15:13:00 +0000

I don’t think they really gave an answer as to why the female kingfishers have an extra belt…maybe this and maybe that. The idea that they have the belt because of extra testosterone is actually silly, when you consider that the males don’t have a belt. If testosterone affected the pigment, the males would have a rust-colored belt too.

By: Bhooma Kumari

Bhooma Kumari — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 06:35:00 +0000

interesting indeed. For a layman like me, rust belt whether on female or male makes them beautiful little winged creatures. But strange that it happens to be female, because male sports all beautiful works as far as animals and birds are concerned.

By: Fred Turner

Fred Turner — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 02:42:00 +0000

like this makes a whole lot of difference?

By: Southern Belle

Southern Belle — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 21:03:00 +0000

maybe God created them that way to confound scientists!