Pied Kingfisher vs Sacred Kingfisher

Pied Kingfisher

Ceryle rudis

Medium84 gWetland

This is a medium-sized kingfisher, about 25 cm (9.8 in) long with a white with a black mask, a white supercilium and black breast bands. The crest is neat and the upperparts are barred in black. Several subspecies are recognized within the broad distribution. The nominate race is found in sub-Saharan Africa, extending into West Asia. The subspecies syriacus is a larger northern bird similar to the nominate subspecies (following Bergmann's rule). Subspecies leucomelanura is found from Afghanistan east into India, Thailand and Southeast Asia.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Anne Ndung'u · CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: biogeek · CC BY 4.0

Sacred Kingfisher

Todiramphus sanctus

Small53 gWoodland

The sacred kingfisher is mostly blue-green to turquoise above with white underparts and collar feathers, a black mask and buff lores. Both sexes are similar, but females are usually greener, duller and less buff beneath, and juveniles have buff or mottled brown edges on the collar, underparts and upper-wing coverts. Adults are 20–23 cm (7.9–9.1 in) long. Males weigh 28–61 g (1.0–2.2 oz) and females 28–56 g (1.0–2.0 oz).

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: (c) Saryu Mae 前 朝琉, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Saryu Mae 前 朝琉 · cc-by

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Pied Kingfisher and Sacred Kingfisher.