Belted Kingfisher vs European Roller
Megaceryle alcyon compared with Coracias garrulus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Belted Kingfisher | European Roller |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Megaceryle alcyon | Coracias garrulus |
| Order | Coraciiformes | Coraciiformes |
| Family | Alcedinidae | Coraciidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 33.0 cm (13.0 in) | 31.0 cm (12.2 in) |
| Wingspan | 53.0 cm (20.9 in) | 66.0 cm (26.0 in) |
| Weight | 150.0 g (5.29 oz) | 130.0 g (4.59 oz) |
| Diet | Primarily small fish caught by plunge-diving from a perch or hover. Also takes crayfish, frogs, … | Large insects, especially beetles, grasshoppers, and crickets. Also takes small reptiles, frogs, and scorpions. Hunts … |
| Clutch Size | 6-7 | 3-6 |
| 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.
European Roller
Warm, dry, open country with scattered trees and nest holes. Breeds in tree cavities, earth banks, and 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.
European Roller
A harsh, grating 'rack-rack' or 'quarrk' in flight. Gives a variety of sharp nasal calls at the nest. Not melodic; primary vocalizations are alarm and contact calls.
Geographic Range & Migration
Belted Kingfisher
North America from Alaska and Canada to Central America and the Caribbean. Northern populations migrate south in winter.
European Roller
Southern and eastern Europe, Central Asia, and North Africa. Winters in sub-Saharan Africa.
Conservation Status
Belted Kingfisher
European Roller
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
European Roller
Turquoise-blue head, breast, and tail. Chestnut-brown back. Vivid ultramarine blue and black wing patches visible in flight.
Short, stout, dark hooked bill
Key Differences
- • Weight: Belted Kingfisher (150g) vs European Roller (130g)
- • Length: Belted Kingfisher (33 cm) vs European Roller (31 cm)
- • Wingspan: Belted Kingfisher (53 cm) vs European Roller (66 cm)
- • Family: Belted Kingfisher (Alcedinidae) vs European Roller (Coraciidae)
- • Habitat: Belted Kingfisher prefers Rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, estuaries, and coastlines wit; European Roller prefers Warm, dry, open country with scattered trees and nest holes
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.
European Roller
The European roller gets its name from the spectacular rolling and tumbling aerial displays performed by males during courtship. It is the only roller species in Europe and one of the continent's most colorful birds. Declining across much of its western range due to agricultural intensification and habitat loss.