Blue-headed Kingfisher vs Belted Kingfisher
Actenoides monachus compared with Megaceryle alcyon
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Blue-headed Kingfisher | Belted Kingfisher |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Actenoides monachus | Megaceryle alcyon |
| Order | Coraciiformes | Coraciiformes |
| Family | Alcedinidae | Alcedinidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 33.0 cm (13.0 in) |
| Wingspan | 28.1 cm (11.1 in) | 53.0 cm (20.9 in) |
| Weight | 150.0 g (5.29 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-headed 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-headed 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-headed Kingfisher
Belted Kingfisher
North America from Alaska and Canada to Central America and the Caribbean. Northern populations migrate south in winter.
Conservation Status
Blue-headed Kingfisher
Belted Kingfisher
How to Tell Them Apart
Blue-headed 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-headed Kingfisher
The Blue-headed Kingfisher (<em>Actenoides monachus</em>) belongs to the family Alcedinidae and is found in forested environments. Detailed plumage and behavioral descriptions of this species are limited in the available literature. This species is currently classified as Near Threatened, a status that reflects concerns about its population trajectory, likely associated with deforestation and habitat degradation within its island range in Indonesia. Unlike many of its close relatives, this species nests in cavities rather than excavated burrows, representing a notable variation in …
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.