Belted Kingfisher vs Biak Paradise-kingfisher
Megaceryle alcyon compared with Tanysiptera riedelii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Belted Kingfisher | Biak Paradise-kingfisher |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Megaceryle alcyon | Tanysiptera riedelii |
| Order | Coraciiformes | Coraciiformes |
| Family | Alcedinidae | Alcedinidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Length | 33.0 cm (13.0 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 53.0 cm (20.9 in) | 19.8 cm (7.8 in) |
| Weight | 150.0 g (5.29 oz) | 64.875 g (2.29 oz) |
| Diet | Primarily small fish caught by plunge-diving from a perch or hover. Also takes crayfish, frogs, … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 6-7 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Belted Kingfisher only
Biak Paradise-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.
Biak Paradise-kingfisher
Geographic Range & Migration
Belted Kingfisher
North America from Alaska and Canada to Central America and the Caribbean. Northern populations migrate south in winter.
Biak Paradise-kingfisher
Conservation Status
Belted Kingfisher
Biak Paradise-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
Biak Paradise-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.
Biak Paradise-kingfisher
The Biak Paradise-kingfisher is a near-threatened, spectacularly plumaged kingfisher endemic to Biak Island in West Papua. It has elongated white tail streamers, turquoise-blue and chestnut plumage, and a bright red bill. It inhabits lowland rainforest and is highly dependent on undisturbed forest for nesting and foraging on earthworms and insects.