Blue-capped Kingfisher vs Belted Kingfisher
Actenoides hombroni compared with Megaceryle alcyon
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Blue-capped Kingfisher | Belted Kingfisher |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Actenoides hombroni | Megaceryle alcyon |
| Order | Coraciiformes | Coraciiformes |
| Family | Alcedinidae | Alcedinidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 33.0 cm (13.0 in) |
| Wingspan | 24.1 cm (9.5 in) | 53.0 cm (20.9 in) |
| Weight | 121.25 g (4.28 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
Blue-capped 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
Blue-capped 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
Blue-capped Kingfisher
Belted Kingfisher
North America from Alaska and Canada to Central America and the Caribbean. Northern populations migrate south in winter.
Conservation Status
Blue-capped Kingfisher
Belted Kingfisher
How to Tell Them Apart
Blue-capped 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
Blue-capped Kingfisher
The Blue-capped Kingfisher (<em>Actenoides hombroni</em>) is a species within the family Alcedinidae, commonly known as the kingfishers. It is associated with forested habitats, where it is presumed to occupy dense woodland at low to mid elevations. Detailed plumage and behavioral descriptions of this species are limited in the available literature. The species is currently assessed as Least Concern, suggesting that its populations are not believed to be under immediate threat at a global level, though localized pressures from habitat modification …
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.