Belted Kingfisher vs Eastern Bluebird
Megaceryle alcyon compared with Sialia sialis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Belted Kingfisher | Eastern Bluebird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Megaceryle alcyon | Sialia sialis |
| Order | Coraciiformes | Passeriformes |
| Family | Alcedinidae | Turdidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 33.0 cm (13.0 in) | 17.5 cm (6.9 in) |
| Wingspan | 53.0 cm (20.9 in) | 27.0 cm (10.6 in) |
| Weight | 150.0 g (5.29 oz) | 31.0 g (1.09 oz) |
| Diet | Primarily small fish caught by plunge-diving from a perch or hover. Also takes crayfish, frogs, … | Insects in summer, berries in winter. Hunts from low perches, dropping to the ground to … |
| Clutch Size | 6-7 | 4-5 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Belted Kingfisher
Rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, estuaries, and coastlines with clear water and suitable perches. Nests in burrows dug into earthen banks.
Eastern Bluebird
Open woodland, farmland edges, orchards, and parks with scattered trees and open ground. Readily uses nest boxes.
Song & Call Comparison
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.
Eastern Bluebird
A rich, melodious warbled 'chur-wi, tur-a-lee' song. Both sexes sing. Call is a soft, musical 'turee'. Song is gentle and flute-like, suggesting a small thrush. Given from exposed perch.
Geographic Range & Migration
Belted Kingfisher
North America from Alaska and Canada to Central America and the Caribbean. Northern populations migrate south in winter.
Eastern Bluebird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to Honduras and Nicaragua. Partially migratory.
Conservation Status
Belted Kingfisher
Eastern Bluebird
How to Tell Them Apart
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
Eastern Bluebird
Males are vivid royal blue above with a rusty-red breast and white belly. Females are grey-blue with a paler rust breast.
Short, thin, dark bill
About These Birds
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.
Eastern Bluebird
The eastern bluebird is a beloved symbol of happiness in North America. Once declining due to habitat loss and competition from introduced species, populations recovered dramatically thanks to a massive citizen science nest box campaign. These gentle thrushes form loose winter flocks and huddle together in nest boxes during cold snaps.