Belted Kingfisher vs Shoebill
Megaceryle alcyon compared with Balaeniceps rex
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Belted Kingfisher | Shoebill |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Megaceryle alcyon | Balaeniceps rex |
| Order | Coraciiformes | Pelecaniformes |
| Family | Alcedinidae | Balaenicipitidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Length | 33.0 cm (13.0 in) | 120.0 cm (47.2 in) |
| Wingspan | 53.0 cm (20.9 in) | 240.0 cm (94.5 in) |
| Weight | 150.0 g (5.29 oz) | 5500.0 g (194.01 oz) |
| Diet | Primarily small fish caught by plunge-diving from a perch or hover. Also takes crayfish, frogs, … | Primarily lungfish, also catfish, water snakes, monitor lizards, and baby crocodiles. Hunts by standing motionless, … |
| Clutch Size | 6-7 | 1-3 |
| 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.
Shoebill
Freshwater swamps dominated by papyrus and other dense aquatic vegetation in tropical East Africa.
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.
Shoebill
Largely silent; produces mechanical bill-clattering 'clap-clap-clap' when greeting at the nest — similar to White Stork. Also gives low croaking grunts. Rarely calls in the wild.
Geographic Range & Migration
Belted Kingfisher
North America from Alaska and Canada to Central America and the Caribbean. Northern populations migrate south in winter.
Shoebill
Central and East Africa from South Sudan and Ethiopia south to Zambia. Largest populations in South Sudan and Uganda.
Conservation Status
Belted Kingfisher
Shoebill
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
Shoebill
Blue-grey plumage overall with a slightly darker back and wings. Powder down gives a washed-out appearance. Small tuft on the back of the head.
Massive shoe-shaped bill, one of the largest of any bird — pale yellowish-grey with darker markings
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.
Shoebill
The shoebill is one of the most sought-after birds for birdwatchers visiting Africa, prized for its prehistoric appearance and massive bill. It can stand motionless for hours before collapsing forward to seize prey in its enormous bill. Despite standing over a meter tall, shoebills weigh relatively little due to their hollow bones.