The green kingfisher (Chloroceryle americana ) is a resident breeding bird which occurs from southern Texas in the United States south through Central and South America to central Argentina.
This small kingfisher breeds by streams in forests or mangroves. The nest is in a horizontal tunnel which is dug by both sexes. It is up to a metre long made in a river bank. The female lays between three and six white eggs.
Green kingfishers are often seen perched on a low shaded branch close to water before plunging in head first after fish. They also eat aquatic insects. These birds often give a pebbly rattling call.
The green kingfisher is 20 cm (7.9 in) long. The male weighs 29–40 g (1.0–1.4 oz) and the female 33–55 g (1.2–1.9 oz). It has the typical kingfisher shape, with a short tail and long bill. It is oily green above, with white markings on the wings and tail, and a white collar around the neck. Males have white underparts apart from a broad chestnut breast band and some green spotting on the flanks. Females have buff-white underparts with two green chest bands, the lower of which links to the green spotting along the sides of the belly. These birds often give a pebbly, rattling call.
This small kingfisher breeds by streams in forests or mangroves. The nest is a horizontal tunnel that is dug by both sexes in a river bank. The tunnel is 5–6 cm (2.0–2.4 in) wide and 1 m (3 ft 3 in) long. The female lays between three and six eggs which are incubated by the female at night and by both birds during the day. The chicks fledge about 27 days after hatching.
Green kingfishers are often seen perched on a low, shaded branch close to water before plunge-diving headfirst after small fish, which seldom exceed a length of two inches. They also eat aquatic insects.
