Green Kingfisher (Chloroceryle americana)

Identification & Behavior: ~19.5 cm (7.7 in). Males and females Green Kingfisher have glossy green upperparts and a broad white (buffy in females) neck collar.  Males have a bright rufous breast and white underparts. Females have buffy breast with a double speckled breast and belly bands; often broken or incomplete. The Green Kingfisher is smaller, have a thinner bill, and shorter crests than Amazon Kingfisher.  The Green Kingfisher has bars on sides and flanks rather than streaks in most Amazon Kingfisher.  Both kingfishers occur together only in Amazonia. Also, see much larger Ringed Kingfisher.

Status: The Green Kingfisher is the most widespread of all kingfishers. It favors a variety of river, creeks and stream types where it usually perches close to the water in semi-concealed perches. Known to occur from sea level to 2500 m in the Andes. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, Bo, and Ch.

Name in Spanish: Martín Pescador Verde.

Sub-species: Green Kingfisher (Chloroceryle americana) (Gmelin, 1788).
C. a. americana: Amazonia, East of the Andes.
C. a. cabanisii: West of the Andes to n Chile.

Meaning of Name: Chloroceryle: Gr. Kloros=green, ceryle (kerulos)= a mythological bird mentioned by Aristotle. americana: Originating from America or occurring in America.

See more of the Family Alcedinidae