Ringed Kingfisher?

Need help identifying a bird? Please post your question here and if possible include a photo. Also let us know where and when you saw the bird. Other things that help are listing any field marks that stood out, behavioral information like how it walked, hopped or flew. This Forum is just for North American birds.
Post Reply
User avatar
Kevin
Posts: 297
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2026 1:59 pm
Has thanked: 426 times
Been thanked: 275 times

Ringed Kingfisher?

Post by Kevin »

Today Parker County Texas(North Central Texas, well out of Ringed Kingfisher range)
Saw what appeared to be a very large Kingfisher fly by me and it landed(perched facing away from me, I was seeing it's back) it SEEMED very large for a belted, it then moved down a little further down the creek and I tried to get photo of it but had a lot of low hanging limbs in the way. It flushed when I started to paddle again trying to get a clear view.
The photo seems to show a solid red breast like a male ringed, but I'm not sure it couldn't just be the lighting playing tricks on the camera? But if that was the case why does the throat show up so clearly white?
Disclaimer. One horrible photo in several crops ahead.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ef3xDPnn8ogjCqNt9
User avatar
Charlie Spencer
Posts: 313
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2026 8:08 pm
Location: Sunset Harbor, North Carolina
Has thanked: 655 times
Been thanked: 410 times
Contact:

Re: Ringed Kingfisher?

Post by Charlie Spencer »

I've never seen a Ringed but the bill looks too narrow compared to AAB photos.

Just one idiot's uninformed opinion.
Sunset Harbor NC USA
User avatar
Kevin
Posts: 297
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2026 1:59 pm
Has thanked: 426 times
Been thanked: 275 times

Re: Ringed Kingfisher?

Post by Kevin »

No, it's a totally reasonable observation. I had it myself.
User avatar
Kevin
Posts: 297
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2026 1:59 pm
Has thanked: 426 times
Been thanked: 275 times

Re: Ringed Kingfisher?

Post by Kevin »

Someone else has now confirmed it as Belted
User avatar
aveschapinas
Posts: 83
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2026 4:47 pm
Location: Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
Has thanked: 142 times
Been thanked: 186 times

Re: Ringed Kingfisher?

Post by aveschapinas »

Kevin wrote: Tue Aug 11, 2026 9:26 pm Today Parker County Texas(North Central Texas, well out of Ringed Kingfisher range)
Saw what appeared to be a very large Kingfisher fly by me and it landed(perched facing away from me, I was seeing it's back) it SEEMED very large for a belted, it then moved down a little further down the creek and I tried to get photo of it but had a lot of low hanging limbs in the way. It flushed when I started to paddle again trying to get a clear view.
The photo seems to show a solid red breast like a male ringed, but I'm not sure it couldn't just be the lighting playing tricks on the camera? But if that was the case why does the throat show up so clearly white?
Disclaimer. One horrible photo in several crops ahead.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ef3xDPnn8ogjCqNt9
I guess I'm too late, but I've seen a lot of both Ringed and Belted so I tried to view the photo but the album shows as empty.
Post Reply