White-throated Kingfisher vs Woodland Kingfisher

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

Woodland Kingfisher

Halcyon senegalensis

Medium73 gWoodland

This is a medium-sized kingfisher, 23 cm (9.1 in) in length. The adult has a bright blue back, wing panel and tail. Its head, neck and underparts are white, and its shoulders are black. The flight of the woodland kingfisher is rapid and direct. The large bill has a red upper mandible and black lower mandible. The legs and feet are dark grey. Some birds may have greyish heads, causing confusion with mangrove kingfisher.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recorded by Anne Ndung'u · Song · Kisumu, Kisumu County, Kenya · CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Xavi Talleda · CC BY 2.0

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