Ringed Kingfisher

Megaceryle torquata

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderCoraciiformes (Rollers, Kingfishers, and Allies)
FamilyAlcedinidae (Kingfishers)
GenusMegaceryle (Large Crested Kingfishers)
SpeciesMegaceryle torquata (Ringed Kingfisher)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Galápagos Islands

4 Verified sightings at Galápagos Islands From 2019 to 2026

24,268 Verified sightings across all 83 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Ringed Kingfisher

The ringed kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata) is a large, conspicuous, and noisy kingfisher bird commonly found along the lower Rio Grande Valley in southeasternmost Texas in the United States through Central America to Tierra del Fuego in South America.

Megaceryle torquata is a Neotropical kingfisher that lives in habitats ranging between the US and Mexico. In 1888, the species was first discovered in the US, while the first ringed kingfisher nest was found in 1970. They are commonly seen along the Rio Grande and in water bodies in southern Texas. Their distribution is increasing and expanding northwards.

The wings of adult males range between 184.9 and 211.1 mm (7.28 and 8.31 in), with an average of 196.3 mm (7.73 in). Their tails range from 110.0–129.0 mm (4.33–5.08 in), and their bills measure 74.9–94 mm (2.95–3.70 in). Female wings are from 185.0-210.1 mm, and their tails measure 111.5–132.1 mm (4.39–5.20 in) and possess bills measuring 75.9–90.9 mm (2.99–3.58 in). Individuals can weigh between 305 and 341 g (10.8 and 12.0 oz). Such measurements prove that the species do not differ sexually in terms of size.

Ringed kingfishers... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Galápagos Islands

Megaceryle alcyon

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas	🇧🇷 Brazil	~60%
2	Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve	🇪🇨 Ecuador	~50%
3	Utría National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~40%
4	Yasuní National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	~40%
5	Noel Kempff Mercado National Park	🇧🇴 Bolivia	~40%
6	Tortuguero National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~40%
7	Anavilhanas National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	~40%
8	Amacayacu National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~30%
9	Caroni Swamp	🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago	~30%
10	Iberá National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	~30%
11	Lago de Yojoa	🇭🇳 Honduras	~30%
12	Bastimentos Island National Marine Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~30%
13	Darién National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~20%
14	Palo Verde National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
15	Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
16	Soberanía National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~20%
17	Biotopo Cerro Cahuí	🇬🇹 Guatemala	~20%
18	Ostional Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
19	Cañón del Sumidero National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~20%
20	Nahuel Huapi National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	~20%
21	Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~20%
22	El Triunfo	🇲🇽 Mexico	~20%
23	El Impenetrable National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	~20%
24	Coiba National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~20%
25	Serra dos Órgãos National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	~20%
26	Santa Rosa National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
27	Las Baulas Marine National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
28	Machalilla National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	~10%
29	Cordillera Azul National Park	🇵🇪 Peru	~10%
30	Manu National Park	🇵🇪 Peru	~10%
31	San Lorenzo Protected Forest	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
32	Tijuca National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	~10%
33	Manuel Antonio National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
34	Tambopata National Reserve	🇵🇪 Peru	~10%
35	Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park	🇨🇱 Chile	~10%
36	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
37	Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~10%
38	Sierra de la Macarena National Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~10%
39	Piedras Blancas National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
40	Braulio Carrillo National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
41	Iguaçu National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	~10%
42	Iguazú National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	~10%
43	Cahuita National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
44	Marino Ballena National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
45	Amboró National Park	🇧🇴 Bolivia	~10%
46	Corcovado National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
47	Chagres National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
48	Tayrona National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~10%
49	El Palmar National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	~10%
50	Arenal Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
51	Calakmul Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
52	Serra da Canastra National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	~10%
53	Henri Pittier National Park	🇻🇪 Venezuela	<5%
54	Podocarpus National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	<5%
55	Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary	🇧🇿 Belize	<5%
56	Carara National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
57	Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
58	Pico Bonito National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	<5%
59	Tierra del Fuego National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	<5%
60	Celestún Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
61	Torres del Paine National Park	🇨🇱 Chile	<5%
62	Madidi National Park	🇧🇴 Bolivia	<5%
63	Canaima National Park	🇻🇪 Venezuela	<5%
64	Puracé National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
65	Los Nevados National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
66	Parque Natural Metropolitano	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
67	Farallones de Cali National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
68	Chapada Diamantina National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%
69	Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
70	Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
71	Tenorio Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
72	Tikal National Park	🇬🇹 Guatemala	<5%
73	Masaya Volcano National Park	🇳🇮 Nicaragua	<5%
74	Rincón de la Vieja National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
75	Los Quetzales National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
76	Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
77	Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
78	Brownsberg Nature Park	🇸🇷 Suriname	Insufficient data
79	Emas National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	Insufficient data
80	Cusuco National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	Insufficient data
81	Itatiaia National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	Insufficient data
82	Chirripó National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
83	Galápagos Islands	🇪🇨 Ecuador	Insufficient data

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