- Chloroceryle amazona
Identification
The Amazon Kingfisher resembles the Green Kingfisher which shares its range, but it is much larger than its relative, and three to four times as heavy. It is 29-30 cm long and weighs 110g. It has the typical kingfisher shape, with a short tail and long bill. It is oily green above, has a shaggy crest and a white collar around the neck. It does not have the white markings on the wings shown by Green Kingfisher.
Males have white underparts, a broad chestnut breast band and some green streaks on the flanks. Females have white underparts with green patches on the side of the chest and green flank streaks. Young birds resemble the adult female, but have white spots on the wings.
Distribution
The Amazon Kingfisher is found in the lowlands of the American tropics from southern Mexico south through Central America to northern Argentina.
Taxonomy
Habitat
Behaviour
These birds often give a harsh teck call. The rarely heard song, given from a tree top, is a whistled see see see see. It breeds by streams. The unlined nest is in a horizontal tunnel made in a river bank, and up to 1.6 m long and 10 cm wide. The female lays three, sometimes four, white eggs. Amazon Kingfishers are often seen perched on a branch or rock close to water before plunging in head first after their fish prey. They are the most likely green kingfisher to be seen on large rivers
