Belted Kingfisher vs Common Kingfisher
Megaceryle alcyon so với Alcedo atthis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Thuộc Tính | Belted Kingfisher | Common Kingfisher |
|---|---|---|
| Tên Khoa Học | Megaceryle alcyon | Alcedo atthis |
| Bộ | Coraciiformes | Coraciiformes |
| Họ | Alcedinidae | Alcedinidae |
| Tình Trạng Bảo Tồn | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Chiều Dài | 33,0 cm (13.0 in) | 17,0 cm (6.7 in) |
| Chiều Dài Sải Cánh | 53,0 cm (20.9 in) | 25,0 cm (9.8 in) |
| Khối Lượng | 150,0 g (5.29 oz) | 36,0 g (1.27 oz) |
| Chế Độ Ăn | 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 … |
| Số Trứng | 6-7 | 3-10 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Môi Trường Sống Chung
Belted Kingfisher only
Không
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.
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.
Common Kingfisher
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 …
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.
Tình Trạng Bảo Tồn
Belted Kingfisher
Common Kingfisher
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
Common Kingfisher
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.
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
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
The common kingfisher is a dazzling jewel of waterways, its iridescent blue plumage caused by light refraction in the feather structure rather than pigment. These birds inspired the design of the Shinkansen bullet train in Japan — the shape of their bill was copied to reduce sonic booms when trains exit tunnels.