Belted Kingfisher vs Greater Flamingo

Megaceryle alcyon comparé à Phoenicopterus roseus

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut Belted Kingfisher Greater Flamingo
Nom scientifique Megaceryle alcyon Phoenicopterus roseus
Ordre Coraciiformes Phoenicopteriformes
Famille Alcedinidae Phoenicopteridae
Statut de conservation Least Concern Least Concern
Longueur 33,0 cm (13.0 in) 130,0 cm (51.2 in)
Envergure 53,0 cm (20.9 in) 160,0 cm (63.0 in)
Poids 150,0 g (5.29 oz) 3500,0 g (123.46 oz)
Régime alimentaire Primarily small fish caught by plunge-diving from a perch or hover. Also takes crayfish, frogs, … Algae, diatoms, brine shrimp, and small crustaceans filtered from shallow alkaline or saline water. Carotenoid …
Taille de la couvée 6-7 1-3
Population Trend
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Size Comparison

Body Length
Belted Kingfisher 33,0 cm
Greater Flamingo 130,0 cm
Envergure
Belted Kingfisher 53,0 cm
Greater Flamingo 160,0 cm
Poids
Belted Kingfisher 150,0 g
Greater Flamingo 3500,0 g
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Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

Belted Kingfisher only

Aucun(e)

Greater Flamingo only

Aucun(e)

Belted Kingfisher

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

Greater Flamingo

Shallow alkaline or saline lakes, coastal lagoons, mudflats, and salt pans. Requires large undisturbed areas for breeding colonies.

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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.

Greater Flamingo

Chant

Loud, nasal goose-like honking 'ka-ha' calls, often in chorus at breeding colonies. Also gives softer gabbling and grunting sounds while feeding and preening.

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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.

Greater Flamingo

Africa, southern Europe, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent. Irregular visitor to northern Europe.

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Statut de conservation

Least Concern

Belted Kingfisher

Least Concern

Greater Flamingo

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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

Greater Flamingo

Plumage

Predominantly white-pink plumage with bright crimson-pink wing coverts revealed in flight. Long pink legs and a sinuous neck. Intensity of color depends on diet.

Bec

Large, downward-bent bill — pink with a black tip, adapted for filter feeding

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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.

Greater Flamingo

The greater flamingo is the most widespread flamingo species and one of the most recognizable birds in the world. Their pink color comes entirely from carotenoid pigments in their crustacean and algal diet. Flamingos are social birds that breed in enormous colonies sometimes numbering tens of thousands.

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