Belted Kingfisher vs Mute Swan
Megaceryle alcyon comparé à Cygnus olor
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Belted Kingfisher | Mute Swan |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Megaceryle alcyon | Cygnus olor |
| Ordre | Coraciiformes | Anseriformes |
| Famille | Alcedinidae | Anatidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | 33,0 cm (13.0 in) | 152,0 cm (59.8 in) |
| Envergure | 53,0 cm (20.9 in) | 235,0 cm (92.5 in) |
| Poids | 150,0 g (5.29 oz) | 11000,0 g (388.01 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Primarily small fish caught by plunge-diving from a perch or hover. Also takes crayfish, frogs, … | Submerged aquatic vegetation, algae, and grass. Feeds by upending in shallow water, reaching depths of … |
| Taille de la couvée | 6-7 | 5-7 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Belted Kingfisher
Rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, estuaries, and coastlines with clear water and suitable perches. Nests in burrows dug into earthen banks.
Mute Swan
Lakes, slow rivers, estuaries, and coastal lagoons. Often associated with parks and ornamental waters in Europe.
Song & Call Comparison
Belted Kingfisher
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.
Mute Swan
Despite its name, not truly mute: gives hissing snorts and low grunting when threatened. Wings produce a loud rhythmic whistling throbbing sound in flight.
Geographic Range & Migration
Belted Kingfisher
North America from Alaska and Canada to Central America and the Caribbean. Northern populations migrate south in winter.
Mute Swan
Native to Europe and western Asia. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Statut de conservation
Belted Kingfisher
Mute Swan
How to Tell Them Apart
Belted Kingfisher
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.
Long, heavy, straight, dark dagger-like bill
Mute Swan
All-white plumage in adults. Cygnets are grey-brown, gradually whitening over the first year. Graceful S-curved neck posture is distinctive.
Orange bill with a prominent black knob at the base, larger in males
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.
Mute Swan
The mute swan is one of the heaviest flying birds, with males weighing up to 14 kg. Despite its name, it is not truly mute, producing hissing, grunting, and snorting sounds. Mute swans form lifelong pair bonds and their aggressive defense of nesting territory is well known.