Belted Kingfisher vs African Dwarf-kingfisher
Megaceryle alcyon compared with Ispidina lecontei
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Belted Kingfisher | African Dwarf-kingfisher |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Megaceryle alcyon | Ispidina lecontei |
| 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) | 9.5 cm (3.7 in) |
| Weight | 150.0 g (5.29 oz) | 10.0 g (0.35 oz) |
| Diet | Primarily small fish caught by plunge-diving from a perch or hover. Also takes crayfish, frogs, … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 6-7 | 3 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Belted Kingfisher only
African Dwarf-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
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.
African Dwarf-kingfisher
Geographic Range & Migration
Belted Kingfisher
North America from Alaska and Canada to Central America and the Caribbean. Northern populations migrate south in winter.
African Dwarf-kingfisher
Conservation Status
Belted Kingfisher
African Dwarf-kingfisher
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
African Dwarf-kingfisher
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.
African Dwarf-kingfisher
The African Dwarf-kingfisher is one of the world's smallest kingfishers at just 10g, found in West and Central African rainforests. It hunts insects with typical kingfisher precision.