Ringed Kingfisher
Ringed KingfisherRinged KingfisherRinged KingfisherRinged Kingfisher

Ringed Kingfisher

Megaceryle torquata

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
at Soberanía National Park
2,175 Verified sightings at Soberanía National Park From 2019 to 2026
24,268 Verified sightings across all 83 parks From 2019 to 2026
January Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ 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 Soberanía National Park

Belted Kingfisher
LC

Belted Kingfisher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Megaceryle alcyon

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
American Pygmy Kingfisher
LC

American Pygmy Kingfisher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chloroceryle aenea

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Green Kingfisher
LC

Green Kingfisher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chloroceryle americana

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Amazon Kingfisher
LC

Amazon Kingfisher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chloroceryle amazona

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Green-and-rufous Kingfisher
LC

Green-and-rufous Kingfisher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chloroceryle inda

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Broad-billed Motmot
LC

Broad-billed Motmot

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Electron platyrhynchum

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
Whooping Motmot
LC

Whooping Motmot

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Momotus subrufescens

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Rufous Motmot
LC

Rufous Motmot

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Baryphthengus martii

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

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

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Ringed Kingfisher in Soberanía National Park?

About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Ringed Kingfisher sighting in Soberanía National Park, based on 2,175 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Ringed Kingfisher in Soberanía National Park?

January has the highest sighting rate for Ringed Kingfisher in Soberanía National Park in our monthly data.

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