Belted Kingfisher vs New Britain Kingfisher

Megaceryle alcyon compared with Todiramphus albonotatus

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Belted Kingfisher New Britain Kingfisher
Scientific Name Megaceryle alcyon Todiramphus albonotatus
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) 16.4 cm (6.5 in)
Weight 150.0 g (5.29 oz) 32.0 g (1.13 oz)
Diet Primarily small fish caught by plunge-diving from a perch or hover. Also takes crayfish, frogs, … --
Clutch Size 6-7 2-3
Population Trend
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Size Comparison

Body Length
Belted Kingfisher 33.0 cm
New Britain Kingfisher
Wingspan
Belted Kingfisher 53.0 cm
New Britain Kingfisher 16.4 cm
Weight
Belted Kingfisher 150.0 g
New Britain Kingfisher 32.0 g
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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

None

Belted Kingfisher only

New Britain 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.

New Britain 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.

New Britain Kingfisher

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Conservation Status

Least Concern

Belted Kingfisher

Near Threatened

New Britain 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

New Britain 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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