Amazon Kingfisher vs Common Kingfisher
Chloroceryle amazona compared with Alcedo atthis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amazon Kingfisher | Common Kingfisher |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chloroceryle amazona | Alcedo atthis |
| Order | Coraciiformes | Coraciiformes |
| Family | Alcedinidae | Alcedinidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 17.0 cm (6.7 in) |
| Wingspan | 26.1 cm (10.3 in) | 25.0 cm (9.8 in) |
| Weight | 121.0 g (4.27 oz) | 36.0 g (1.27 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Small fish, aquatic insects, and crustaceans. Hunts from a low perch over water, diving headfirst … |
| Clutch Size | 3-4 | 3-10 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Common Kingfisher
Clear, slow-flowing rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds with suitable perching and nesting banks. Requires clean water with good fish populations.
Song & Call Comparison
Amazon Kingfisher
Common Kingfisher
A sharp, penetrating 'chee' whistle given in flight, often the first indication of its presence. Short, shrill single note as it darts low over rivers. Contact call is a rippling …
Geographic Range & Migration
Amazon Kingfisher
Common Kingfisher
Widespread across Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Northern populations migrate south in winter.
Conservation Status
Amazon Kingfisher
Common Kingfisher
How to Tell Them Apart
Amazon Kingfisher
Common Kingfisher
Brilliant electric blue upperparts and orange underparts. Blue-green crown with darker barring. White throat patch and cheek spots. A flash of blue in flight.
Long, straight, dagger-like dark bill — orange base on the lower mandible in females
About These Birds
Amazon Kingfisher
The Amazon Kingfisher is a large green-and-white kingfisher weighing 121 g with a 26.1 cm wingspan, perching over rivers and lakes across tropical America. It plunges headfirst into water to catch fish, making it one of the most visible birds along Amazonian waterways.
Common Kingfisher
The common kingfisher is a dazzling jewel of waterways, its iridescent blue plumage caused by light refraction in the feather structure rather than pigment. These birds inspired the design of the Shinkansen bullet train in Japan — the shape of their bill was copied to reduce sonic booms when trains exit tunnels.