Green Kingfisher

The Green Kingfisher (Chloroceryle americana) is a resident breeding bird that occurs from southern Texas in the United States south through Central and South America to central Argentina. This tiny kingfisher nestles in mangroves or woodlands near streams. Both sexes work together to dig the horizontal tunnel in which the nest is located. It is constructed in a riverbank and is up to one meter long. Between three and six white eggs are laid by the female. Green kingfishers are frequently spotted perched on a low, shady branch near water before diving in head first after fish. They also consume aquatic insects. These birds frequently make a pebbly rattling sound.

The green kingfisher has a length of 20 cm. The female is 33–55 g and the male is 29–40 g in weight. It has a short tail and a large bill, which are characteristics of kingfishers. Above, it is an oily green color with white markings on the wings, tail, and collar. Apart from a wide chestnut breast band and some green patterning on the flanks, males have white underparts. The underparts of females are buff-white, and they have two green breast bands on their chests, the lower of which connects to the green spots on the sides of their bellies.