It’s always a thrill to see a completely unfamiliar bird when exploring a new area. But there is also a comfort in recognizing something relatable when exploring a new area. A great example of both the unique and the familiar are the kingfishers.

Classified into three subfamilies, there are more 100 different species of kingfishers worldwide. Most are easily recognizable as kingfishers, even if the exact species is unknown. Motmots, bee-eaters, todies, rollers, and ground-rollers are all related to kingfishers and fit within the Coraciiformes order.

Kingfisher species share bulky bodies types with relatively thick heads. Heavy bills and strong feet are universals within the family. Some show shaggy crests, and most have short stiff tails. Despite similarities in form, functionally this group of birds fills a variety of ecological niches.

The birds can thrive in a number of habitats from coastal mangroves to desert climes. The diets are kingfishers are quite varied. Not all specialize in eating fish. The shovel-billed kookaburra scoops up worms with a built-in spade, for example. Nearly all are diurnal, but the hook-billed kingfisher is a nocturnal predator.

The lore of kingfishers spans many societies. The sacred kingfisher is a holy bird for Polynesians, but many cultures hold kingfishers in high regard. Others, however, believed certain kingfisher species were bad omens.

Here is a world tour of some of the kingfisher all-stars from across the globe.

Belted kingfisher is the reference species for most people in the United States and Canada. With a 20-inch wingspan, the species is about average sized for the family. While striking, the blues of the belted kingfisher are more subdued than many other species. Belted kingfishers survive on a diet heavy in fish, and thus are usually found within close proximity to water.

Green kingfisher is more abundant in Central and South America, but the species can be located in the southwestern reaches of the United States from Arizona to Texas. This is one of the species that will dig nesting burrows, upwards of 3 feet deep, into riverbanks. They are about half the size of belted kingfishers but sport an especially massive bill.

Ringed kingfisher has an extensive range in Central and South America, but the species does extend into the southern tip of the United States in the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. The species has slowing been expanding range in Texas since the 1960s. Ringed kingfishers inhabit both fresh and saltwater environments.

Amazon kingfisher is a larger version of the green kingfisher. Like the other kingfishers of the Americas, this species is classified in the Cerylinae or water kingfisher subfamily. These birds often hover in place before diving after aquatic prey. In addition to fish, they will consume amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates like crustaceans and insects.

Common kingfisher is a member of the Alcedininae or river kingfisher subfamily. This group is collectively referred to as pygmy kingfishers. These iridescent beauties are the only species of kingfisher found in much of Europe. They are also numerous in northern Africa and southern Asia to Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.