Belted Kingfisher vs Javan Kingfisher

Megaceryle alcyon compared with Halcyon cyanoventris

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Belted Kingfisher Javan Kingfisher
Scientific Name Megaceryle alcyon Halcyon cyanoventris
Order Coraciiformes Coraciiformes
Family Alcedinidae Alcedinidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length 33.0 cm (13.0 in)
Wingspan 53.0 cm (20.9 in) 23.4 cm (9.2 in)
Weight 150.0 g (5.29 oz) 93.0 g (3.28 oz)
Diet Primarily small fish caught by plunge-diving from a perch or hover. Also takes crayfish, frogs, … --
Clutch Size 6-7 3-5
Population Trend
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Size Comparison

Body Length
Belted Kingfisher 33.0 cm
Javan Kingfisher
Wingspan
Belted Kingfisher 53.0 cm
Javan Kingfisher 23.4 cm
Weight
Belted Kingfisher 150.0 g
Javan Kingfisher 93.0 g
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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Belted Kingfisher only

None

Javan Kingfisher only

Belted Kingfisher

Rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, estuaries, and coastlines with clear water and suitable perches. Nests in burrows dug into earthen banks.

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Song & Call Comparison

Belted Kingfisher

Song

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.

Javan Kingfisher

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Geographic Range & Migration

Belted Kingfisher

North America from Alaska and Canada to Central America and the Caribbean. Northern populations migrate south in winter.

Javan Kingfisher

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Conservation Status

Least Concern

Belted Kingfisher

Least Concern

Javan Kingfisher

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How to Tell Them Apart

Belted Kingfisher

Plumage

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.

Bill

Long, heavy, straight, dark dagger-like bill

Javan Kingfisher

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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.

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Related Comparisons

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