Got it working. Complete solution:
\setupexternalfigures[
location={local,global,default},
width=\textwidth
]
\defineexternalfigure[svg][width=1cm]
\defineexternalfigure[jpg][width=2cm]
\defineexternalfigure[png][width=4cm]
\defineexternalfigure[pdf][width=6cm]
\starttexdefinition includegraphics #1
\splitfilename{#1}
\processaction[\splitofftype][
jpg=>{\externalfigure[#1][jpg]},
png=>{\externalfigure[#1][png]},
svg=>{\externalfigure[#1][svg][conversion=mp]},
default=>{\externalfigure[#1]},
unknown=>{\externalfigure[#1]}
]
\stoptexdefinition
\starttext
\includegraphics{kitten.jpg}
\includegraphics{mill.png}
\includegraphics{cow.pdf}
\includegraphics{tiger.svg}
\stoptext
Image files attached.