Belted Kingfisher vs Common Kingfisher

Megaceryle alcyon comparado con Alcedo atthis

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Atributo Belted Kingfisher Common Kingfisher
Nombre científico Megaceryle alcyon Alcedo atthis
Orden Coraciiformes Coraciiformes
Familia Alcedinidae Alcedinidae
Estado de conservación Least Concern Least Concern
Longitud 33,0 cm (13.0 in) 17,0 cm (6.7 in)
Envergadura 53,0 cm (20.9 in) 25,0 cm (9.8 in)
Peso 150,0 g (5.29 oz) 36,0 g (1.27 oz)
Dieta Primarily small fish caught by plunge-diving from a perch or hover. Also takes crayfish, frogs, … Small fish, aquatic insects, and crustaceans. Hunts from a low perch over water, diving headfirst …
Tamaño de la puesta 6-7 3-10
Population Trend
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Size Comparison

Body Length
Belted Kingfisher 33,0 cm
Common Kingfisher 17,0 cm
Envergadura
Belted Kingfisher 53,0 cm
Common Kingfisher 25,0 cm
Peso
Belted Kingfisher 150,0 g
Common Kingfisher 36,0 g
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Habitat Comparison

Hábitats compartidos

Belted Kingfisher only

Ninguno

Common Kingfisher only

Belted Kingfisher

Rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, estuaries, and coastlines with clear water and suitable perches. Nests in burrows dug into earthen banks.

Common Kingfisher

Clear, slow-flowing rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds with suitable perching and nesting banks. Requires clean water with good fish populations.

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Song & Call Comparison

Belted Kingfisher

Canto

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.

Common Kingfisher

Canto

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 …

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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.

Common Kingfisher

Widespread across Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Northern populations migrate south in winter.

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Estado de conservación

Least Concern

Belted Kingfisher

Least Concern

Common Kingfisher

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How to Tell Them Apart

Belted Kingfisher

Plumaje

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.

Pico

Long, heavy, straight, dark dagger-like bill

Common Kingfisher

Plumaje

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.

Pico

Long, straight, dagger-like dark bill — orange base on the lower mandible in females

Key Differences

  • • Weight: Common Kingfisher (36g) vs Belted Kingfisher (150g)
  • • Length: Common Kingfisher (17 cm) vs Belted Kingfisher (33 cm)
  • • Wingspan: Common Kingfisher (25 cm) vs Belted Kingfisher (53 cm)
  • • Habitat: Common Kingfisher prefers Clear, slow-flowing rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds with s; Belted Kingfisher prefers Rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, estuaries, and coastlines wit
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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.

Common Kingfisher

Martín pescador común (Alcedo atthis) — Una de las aves más coloridas de Europa: azul y verde metálico en el dorso y naranja en el vientre. Habita en ríos y lagos de aguas claras. Captura peces lanzándose en picado. Símbolo del buen estado ecológico del agua.

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