Ringed Kingfisher

Megaceryle torquata

Explore this bird

Identification

41 cm (16") Rare. Southern Texas especially along Rio Grande.

Male: told from belted Kingfisher by its larger size and rust or rufous color belly.

Female: told from Belted Kingfisher by its larger size and rust or rufous color belly.

Song: call is a series of harsh rattles which are slower and lower than Belted's; chack notes given in flight.

Details in the field

4 photos

Credit: Frank Vassen

Credit: Carol Foil

Credit: Ronald Woan

Watch and learn

1 video

Ringed Kingfisher - Megaceryle torquata

Credit: Ron Jackson

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

1 rule

Rule 1 15 criteria confidence 1

What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Blue · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Blue · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Very long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Blue · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Blue · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States

result:839-ringed-kingfisher-female:1:1 Source: 839 Ringed Kingfisher (Female), row 1

1 rule

Rule 1 15 criteria confidence 1

What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Blue · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Very long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Blue · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Blue · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States

result:838-ringed-kingfisher-male:1:1 Source: 838 Ringed Kingfisher (Male), row 1