Belted Kingfisher vs Eastern Bluebird

Megaceryle alcyon comparé à Sialia sialis

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut Belted Kingfisher Eastern Bluebird
Nom scientifique Megaceryle alcyon Sialia sialis
Ordre Coraciiformes Passeriformes
Famille Alcedinidae Turdidae
Statut de conservation Least Concern Least Concern
Longueur 33,0 cm (13.0 in) 17,5 cm (6.9 in)
Envergure 53,0 cm (20.9 in) 27,0 cm (10.6 in)
Poids 150,0 g (5.29 oz) 31,0 g (1.09 oz)
Régime alimentaire Primarily small fish caught by plunge-diving from a perch or hover. Also takes crayfish, frogs, … Insects in summer, berries in winter. Hunts from low perches, dropping to the ground to …
Taille de la couvée 6-7 4-5
Population Trend
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Size Comparison

Body Length
Belted Kingfisher 33,0 cm
Eastern Bluebird 17,5 cm
Envergure
Belted Kingfisher 53,0 cm
Eastern Bluebird 27,0 cm
Poids
Belted Kingfisher 150,0 g
Eastern Bluebird 31,0 g
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Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

Aucun(e)

Belted Kingfisher only

Eastern Bluebird only

Belted Kingfisher

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

Eastern Bluebird

Open woodland, farmland edges, orchards, and parks with scattered trees and open ground. Readily uses nest boxes.

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Song & Call Comparison

Belted Kingfisher

Chant

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.

Eastern Bluebird

Chant

A rich, melodious warbled 'chur-wi, tur-a-lee' song. Both sexes sing. Call is a soft, musical 'turee'. Song is gentle and flute-like, suggesting a small thrush. Given from exposed perch.

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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.

Eastern Bluebird

Eastern North America from southern Canada to Honduras and Nicaragua. Partially migratory.

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Statut de conservation

Least Concern

Belted Kingfisher

Least Concern

Eastern Bluebird

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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.

Bec

Long, heavy, straight, dark dagger-like bill

Eastern Bluebird

Plumage

Males are vivid royal blue above with a rusty-red breast and white belly. Females are grey-blue with a paler rust breast.

Bec

Short, thin, dark bill

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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.

Eastern Bluebird

The eastern bluebird is a beloved symbol of happiness in North America. Once declining due to habitat loss and competition from introduced species, populations recovered dramatically thanks to a massive citizen science nest box campaign. These gentle thrushes form loose winter flocks and huddle together in nest boxes during cold snaps.

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