Striped Kingfisher vs White-throated Kingfisher

Striped Kingfisher

Halcyon chelicuti

Small43 gShrubland

The striped kingfisher of the nominate subspecies H. c. chelicuti averages 16 to 18 cm (about 6.5 in) from beak to tail. Perched adults look mostly greyish brown on the upper part of the body. The lower back, secondary flight feathers, and tail are metallic blue; this colour is much more visible when the bird flies than when it is perched, as is a white patch at the base of the primary flight feathers. The wing linings are white with a black border, and in males a black bar at the base of the primaries.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recorded by paulo kivuyo · Duet · Kingori, Meru, Arusha Region, Tanzania · CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Henggang Cui · CC0

White-throated Kingfisher

Halcyon smyrnensis

Medium91 gUrban

This is a large kingfisher, 27–28 cm (10.6–11.0 in) in length. The adult has a bright blue back, wings and tail. Its head, shoulders, flanks and lower belly are chestnut, and the throat and breast are white. The large bill and legs are bright red. The flight of the white-throated kingfisher is rapid and direct, the short rounded wings whirring. In flight, large white patches are visible on the blue and black wings. Sexes are similar, but juveniles are a duller version of the adult. This species forms a superspecies with Halcyon cyanoventris and most major works recognize four geographic races.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recorded by Sathyan Meppayur · Call, breeding call · Meppayur, Kozhikode, Kerala, India · CC0

Photo: Dani Alba · CC BY 4.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Striped Kingfisher and White-throated Kingfisher.