Woodland Kingfisher look-alikes
Halcyon senegalensis
Spotted a bird? Identify it instantly with the Birdby app
Open the appSeveral birds can be mistaken for the Woodland Kingfisher. Compare the key differences below to confirm your sighting.
Birds to compare
Striped Kingfisher
Halcyon chelicuti
Key differences
The Striped Kingfisher is smaller, has a streaked crown, and a bicolored bill that is red at the base and black at the tip (not red upper/black lower). Its back is duller blue-green, and it lacks the prominent black shoulder patch of the Woodland Kingfisher.
Grey-headed Kingfisher
Halcyon leucocephala
Key differences
The Grey-headed Kingfisher has a grey head, rufous underparts, and a completely red bill. Its back is also blue, but the overall color pattern is distinctly different from the white-headed, white-bellied Woodland Kingfisher.
Mangrove Kingfisher
Halcyon senegaloides
Key differences
The Mangrove Kingfisher is very similar in appearance to the Woodland Kingfisher, often considered a 'sister species'. Key differences are subtle: the Mangrove Kingfisher typically has an all-red bill (though some Woodland Kingfishers can also have this), a slightly darker blue back, and often a more extensive buff wash on the flanks. Its call is also distinct, being a more rapid, higher-pitched trill. Its habitat preference is strictly coastal mangroves and estuaries.
Explore the Woodland Kingfisher
Identify birds anywhere
Free on iOS, Android, and Web. Photo & sound identification, full species database, and your personal life list.