Moustached Kingfisher vs Belted Kingfisher
Actenoides bougainvillei compared with Megaceryle alcyon
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Moustached Kingfisher | Belted Kingfisher |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Actenoides bougainvillei | Megaceryle alcyon |
| Order | Coraciiformes | Coraciiformes |
| Family | Alcedinidae | Alcedinidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 33.0 cm (13.0 in) |
| Wingspan | 25.8 cm (10.2 in) | 53.0 cm (20.9 in) |
| Weight | 187.5 g (6.61 oz) | 150.0 g (5.29 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Primarily small fish caught by plunge-diving from a perch or hover. Also takes crayfish, frogs, … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 6-7 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Moustached Kingfisher only
Belted Kingfisher only
Belted Kingfisher
Rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, estuaries, and coastlines with clear water and suitable perches. Nests in burrows dug into earthen banks.
Song & Call Comparison
Moustached Kingfisher
Belted Kingfisher
A loud, rattling 'klee-klee-klee-klee' — mechanical and penetrating. Given in flight along rivers. Also a harsh 'kekekek' near nest. Far louder than Common Kingfisher.
Geographic Range & Migration
Moustached Kingfisher
Belted Kingfisher
North America from Alaska and Canada to Central America and the Caribbean. Northern populations migrate south in winter.
Conservation Status
Moustached Kingfisher
Belted Kingfisher
How to Tell Them Apart
Moustached Kingfisher
Belted Kingfisher
Blue-grey upperparts with a shaggy crest and a white collar. Males have a single blue-grey breast band; females have an additional rufous belly band.
Long, heavy, straight, dark dagger-like bill
About These Birds
Moustached Kingfisher
The Moustached Kingfisher (<em>Actenoides bougainvillei</em>) is a member of the family Alcedinidae, the kingfishers, and is found in forested habitats. Detailed plumage and behavioral descriptions of this species are limited in the available literature. Like other members of its genus, it is believed to favor dense lowland and foothill forest, where it likely perches quietly while searching for prey. The nesting habits of this species involve excavating burrows, a strategy typical among terrestrial kingfishers in the Actenoides group. Specific details …
Belted Kingfisher
The belted kingfisher is unusual in that the female is more colorful than the male, sporting an additional rufous belly band. These noisy birds announce their territory with a distinctive rattling call. They excavate nesting burrows up to 2.4 meters deep into riverbanks using their heavy bills.