American Pygmy Kingfisher

The American pygmy kingfisher, Chloroceryle aenea, is a diminutive gem of the water kingfisher family, Alcedinidae. This species, adorned with a shaggy crest and a robust bill, is the smallest of the New World kingfishers, measuring a mere 13 cm in length.

Identification Tips

Males of the nominate subspecies boast a dark glossy green plumage with a golden sheen on their upperparts, separated by a narrow rufous collar from their bluer green tail. Their underparts are a rich rufous, deepening on the breast and flanks, with a white center on the breast and white undertail coverts. Females are similar but sport a dark green band across their upper breast. Juveniles are paler below with buffy wing spots, and males have green-black streaks on their breast. The subspecies C. a. stictoptera is distinguished by white spots on its secondaries and some white on the rump.

Habitat

This species thrives in dense forests, favoring the seclusion of small streams, rivers, pools, swamps, and mangrove tidal channels. It avoids open landscapes and can be found from sea level up to 2,600 meters in elevation.

Distribution

The American pygmy kingfisher graces a vast range from southern Mexico through Central America and into nearly every mainland South American country, excluding Chile and Uruguay. It is also a resident of Trinidad.

Behaviour

Presumed to be sedentary, this kingfisher hunts from low perches, diving into water to snatch small fish, tadpoles, frogs, and large insects such as damselflies. There are unconfirmed reports of it catching insects mid-flight.

Song & Calls

The vocal repertoire of this species includes a weak, repeated 'tik' or 'dzit, tsweek', which can accelerate into a rattle or chatter. Its song is believed to be a series of musical chirps.

Breeding

Breeding seasons vary geographically, with activities reported from January in Mexico to as late as September in Trinidad. Pairs collaboratively excavate a burrow for nesting, with clutch sizes typically of three or four eggs. Incubation periods and fledging times remain undocumented.

Similar Species

The American pygmy kingfisher could be confused with other small kingfishers in its range, but its size and specific coloration patterns are distinctive.

Diet and Feeding

Its diet is composed of small fish from families such as Characidae and Cyprinodontidae, as well as tadpoles, frogs, and large insects.

Conservation status

The IUCN has classified the American pygmy 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.