Birds
Amazon Kingfisher
Chloroceryle amazona · also called Amazon kingfishers
Diving from a perch above a wide tropical river, an Amazon kingfisher puts its heavy bill to use on fish too large for its smaller green-backed relatives, the biggest member of its genus found anywhere across the Americas.
Overview
The Amazon kingfisher, Chloroceryle amazona, is the largest of the green-backed American kingfishers, native to wetland habitat across a broad range spanning Mexico to South America. Its dark green upperparts and white collar scaled up to a larger size, heavier bill suited to bigger fish, and preference for wider rivers over narrow streams make it one of the most physically imposing members of its genus found anywhere in the Americas.
Bigger rivers, bigger bird
By favouring wider rivers that its smaller relative the green kingfisher tends to avoid, the Amazon kingfisher has carved out its own niche among the green-backed kingfishers, matching its larger size to correspondingly larger stretches of water.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread across suitable wetland habitat throughout its range spanning Mexico to South America.
Amazon Kingfisher: common questions
How is the Amazon kingfisher different from the green kingfisher?
This species is the largest of the green-backed American kingfishers, noticeably bigger than the green kingfisher, and favours wider rivers rather than the narrow, sheltered streams the smaller species prefers.
What kind of prey can the Amazon kingfisher catch?
This species has a proportionally heavy bill suited to taking larger fish than its smaller relatives are able to manage, an advantage that comes with its bigger overall size.
How can you identify an Amazon kingfisher?
This species can be identified by its dark green upperparts and white collar, a pattern shared with the smaller green kingfisher but displayed on a noticeably larger bird.
Where is the Amazon kingfisher found?
This species is native to wetland habitat across a broad range spanning Mexico to South America, favouring wider rivers and larger waterways throughout that range.