Animals

This largest of all kingfishers is up to 17 inches in length and weighs up to 1 pound. Plumage is brown with grayish white underside and head. Tail has dark bands and face has brown cheek patches. Females have gray patches on their wings; males have blue patches on their wings and at the top of their tail. They have long sharply pointed beaks that are slightly flattened from top to bottom; the top of the beak is black and the bottom is tan. Known for its loud territorial call that sounds like maniacal human laughter, the bird also utters softer gutteral sounds. Their flattish feet have the middle and outer toes welded together over much of their length and they hop instead of walk.
They feed by perching on a tree branch and pouncing on terrestrial invertebrates, reptiles, small mammals, birds and nestlings. Can devour snakes up to 3 ft in length. Not closely associated with water, but will sometimes catch fish with plunging dives and, on occasion, raid suburban goldfish ponds.