Bird Guide

Blue-eared Kingfisher vs Cerulean Kingfisher

Blue-eared Kingfisher (Alcedo meninting)

Blue-eared Kingfisher

Alcedo meninting

Small20 gRiverine

This 16 centimetres (6.3 in) long kingfisher is almost identical to the common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) but is distinguished by the blue ear coverts, darker and more intense cobalt-blue upperparts with richer rufous under parts. The juvenile blue-eared kingfisher has rufous ear-coverts as in the common kingfisher but it usually shows some mottling on the throat and upper breast which disappears when the bird reaches adulthood. Young birds have a reddish bill with whitish tips.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Paulo Philippidis from San Jose California, USA · CC BY 2.0
Cerulean Kingfisher (Alcedo coerulescens)

Cerulean Kingfisher

Alcedo coerulescens

Small28 gRiverine

The cerulean kingfisher is a small kingfisher with a length of 13 cm (5.1 in). The upperparts are a range of shades of blue with white lores and a prominent white patch on each side of the neck. The underparts are white with an azure-blue breast-band. The bill is blackish and the legs are dark brown. The female has duller and slightly greenish plumage and a narrower breast band.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Cerulean Kingfisher
Recorded by Untung Sarmawi · Alarm call, duet · Teluk Terima, Gerokgak, Buleleng Regency, Bali, Indonesia · CC0
Photo: Ganesh Subramaniam from B.R.HILLS, South India, India · CC BY 2.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Blue-eared Kingfisher and Cerulean Kingfisher.