Belted Kingfisher vs Great Horned Owl
Megaceryle alcyon comparado com Bubo virginianus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Atributo | Belted Kingfisher | Great Horned Owl |
|---|---|---|
| Nome científico | Megaceryle alcyon | Bubo virginianus |
| Ordem | Coraciiformes | Strigiformes |
| Família | Alcedinidae | Strigidae |
| Estado de conservação | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Comprimento | 33,0 cm (13.0 in) | 55,0 cm (21.7 in) |
| Envergadura | 53,0 cm (20.9 in) | 127,0 cm (50.0 in) |
| Peso | 150,0 g (5.29 oz) | 1400,0 g (49.38 oz) |
| Dieta | Primarily small fish caught by plunge-diving from a perch or hover. Also takes crayfish, frogs, … | Extremely diverse — mammals (rabbits, skunks, rodents), birds (including other raptors), reptiles, amphibians, and fish. … |
| Tamanho da postura | 6-7 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Habitats partilhados
Belted Kingfisher only
Nenhum
Belted Kingfisher
Rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, estuaries, and coastlines with clear water and suitable perches. Nests in burrows dug into earthen banks.
Great Horned Owl
Diverse habitats including forests, deserts, swamps, urban parks, and suburban areas. Nests in tree hollows, cliff ledges, and abandoned nests of other large birds.
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.
Great Horned Owl
Deep, resonant 'who-who-who-who-ooo': the classic 'hoo-h'HOO-hoo-hoo' territorial duet of a mated pair. Booms at dusk. Female pitch slightly higher than male.
Geographic Range & Migration
Belted Kingfisher
North America from Alaska and Canada to Central America and the Caribbean. Northern populations migrate south in winter.
Great Horned Owl
North and South America from subarctic Canada to Tierra del Fuego. One of the most widespread owls in the Americas.
Estado de conservação
Belted Kingfisher
Great Horned Owl
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
Great Horned Owl
Mottled grey-brown plumage with heavy dark barring. Prominent ear tufts, yellow eyes, and a white throat patch give a fierce expression.
Dark grey-black hooked bill almost hidden by facial disc feathers
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.
Great Horned Owl
The great horned owl is the most powerful and widespread owl in the Americas, earning the nickname tiger of the sky. It is one of the earliest nesting birds, often laying eggs in January when snow still covers the ground. Great horned owls are fierce predators, regularly taking prey up to three times their own weight.