Amazon Kingfisher

The Amazon kingfisher, Chloroceryle amazona, is a robust bird with a characteristic kingfisher profile: a shaggy crest and a long, heavy bill. This species exhibits sexual dimorphism in plumage coloration. The male's upperparts are a dark bronzy green with a white collar, while the underparts are a striking rufous with green flanks. The female, however, has green extending across the breast. Both sexes have a white chin and throat, and juveniles display a buffy rufous breast.

Identification Tips

Adult males can be identified by their dark green upperparts and rufous breast, separated by a white collar. Females lack the rufous breast, and their green sides extend across the breast. The bill is black with pale yellow at the base of the mandible, and the legs and feet are dark gray. Juveniles have buff spots on the upperwing coverts and a notable yellow patch on their bill.

Habitat

The Amazon kingfisher is typically found along large rivers, both slow- and fast-flowing, as well as the wooded shores of lakes and freshwater lagoons. It can also be found in brackish lagoons, mangroves, and tidal estuaries, preferring open landscapes over dense forests.

Distribution

This species ranges from the Mexican states of Sinaloa and Tamaulipas, through Central America, into Colombia and Venezuela, and east of the Andes in South America, excluding Chile. Its southernmost range extends to central Argentina. It has been recorded as a vagrant in Aruba, Trinidad, and Texas.

Behaviour

The Amazon kingfisher is generally sedentary, though vagrancy has been recorded. It typically hunts from a perch, diving into the water for prey, but it may also hover before striking.

Song & Calls

The vocal repertoire includes a loud, harsh 'tek' or 'klek', a staccato 'chrit' that can become a rattle, and 'frog-like' calls. An accelerating series of clear notes is thought to serve as a greeting or alarm call.

Breeding

Breeding seasons vary geographically, with Central America seeing activity in the first half of the year. Pairs excavate burrows in river banks for nesting, with clutches typically consisting of three or four eggs. Incubation and fledging periods are about 22 and 29 to 30 days, respectively.

Diet and Feeding

The Amazon kingfisher's diet is predominantly fish, especially from the family Characidae, and crustaceans. It employs both perching and hovering techniques to capture its aquatic prey.

Conservation status

The IUCN has classified the Amazon kingfisher as Least Concern, with an estimated population of at least half a million mature individuals. Despite a suspected population decline, no immediate threats have been identified for this species with an extremely large range.