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Birds of Zihuatanejo

CLASS AVES

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Chordates (Phylum Chordata)

-Vertebrates (Subphylum Vertebrata)

-Birds (Class Aves)

-Kingfishers and Allies (Order Coraciiformes)

-Water Kingfishers (Subfamily Cerylinae)

-American Green Kingfishers (Genus Chloroceryle)

-Green Kingfisher (Chloroceryle americana)


The Green Kingfisher (Chloroceryle americana) is a small yet vibrant species of kingfisher found across Central and South America. Males: Have a glossy green back, head, and wings, with a white collar around the neck and a bold chestnut-colored breast band. Females: Similar green upperparts but lack the chestnut band; instead, they have green spots on their white breast. They have a long, sharp, black bill, slightly larger in proportion to their head. Primarily eats small fish, but also consumes aquatic insects and occasionally small crustaceans. Hunts by diving headfirst into the water from a low perch, using its keen eyesight to spot prey.

Green Kingfisher - Female

Chloroceryle americana

Diet

  • Primarily small fish.

  • Also feeds on aquatic insects, tadpoles, frogs, shrimp, crayfish, crabs, and other aquatic invertebrates.

  • Hunts by perching over water and diving headfirst to capture prey with its long, pointed bill.

Range

  • Found from southern Texas through Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and much of South America to central Argentina.

  • Widespread throughout Mexico, including the Zihuatanejo region, where it is a year-round resident.

  • Inhabits rivers, streams, ponds, marshes, mangroves, estuaries, lagoons, and other freshwater and brackish wetlands with overhanging vegetation.

Male / Female

  • Male: Metallic green upperparts with a rich chestnut breast, white throat, and white belly; long dark bill.

  • Female: Similar green upperparts but with a green breast band separated from the white throat by a narrow white band; white belly below.

  • The chest pattern makes the sexes easy to distinguish in the field.

Size

  • Length: 19–21 cm (7.5–8.3 in)

  • Wingspan: 28–30 cm (11–12 in)

  • Weight: 27–40 g

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