Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, Brazil, August 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Amazon Kingfisher
Latin: Chloroceryle amazona
Other: Martim-pescador-verde (Br) • Martín pescador amazónico (Es)
Family: Alcedinidae • Kingfishers
Range: Mexico to Argentina, including all Brazil
Similar: Green Kingfisher

The Amazon Kingfisher is a large river kingfisher. The male Amazon Kingfisher (pictured directly below) has a rufous chest. The female Amazon Kingfisher (above) has white and green markings. They are much larger than Green Kingfishers and have less white wing spotting than the latter.

Several near Curicaca Lodge in the Pantanal in August, above ditches beside small roads and above rivers.

Also seen in Amazonia above river banks and in Rio Grande do Sul on telephone wires above wetlands.

Below: a male Amazon Kingfisher in the Pantanal.


Below: a female Amazon Kingfisher in the Pantanal, August.
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Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, Brazil, August 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Ringed Kingfisher
Latin: Megaceryle torquata
Other: Martim-pescador-grande (Br) • Martín pescador grande, Martín pescador de collar (Es)
Family: Alcedinidae • Kingfishers
Range: Texas to Tierra del Fuego, including all of Brazil
Similar:

The Ringed Kingfisher is a large kingfisher, which seemed abundant on the banks of the Rio Claro, in the Pantanal, in August; one was perched every few hundred metres in some places. A large, dominant and vocal bird. Also seen beside roads near drying pools, and in by the river in Napo, Ecuador.

The female Ringed Kingfisher (directly below) has a grey chest, while the male (above) is rufous right up to the white neck line. Bill has a light yellow patch on lower base. Rufous belly, grey wings, white collar, large white patch in front of eye; grey plumage is diagnostic.

Below: female Ringed Kingfisher in the Pantanal, Brazil, 2011.
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Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, Brazil, August 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Green Kingfisher
Latin: Chloroceryle americana
Other: Martín pescador verde (Es) • Martim-pescador-pequeno (Br)
Family: Alcedinidae • Kingfishers
Range: SW USA to N Argentina
Similar: Amazon Kingfisher

The male Green Kingfisher (above) has a white neck, rufous chest, green head and back, white-spotted black wings and white underneath. The female (below) lacks the rufous colouring.

A smaller bird than the Amazon Kingfisher. Seen regularly in the Pantanal on the banks of the Rio Claro, at Curicaca Lodge, for example. Also Ecuador in the Oriente and Panama in the Canal Zone.

A presumed female Green Kingfisher at Pousada Curicaca.
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Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, Brazil, August 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Green and Rufous Kingfisher
Latin: Chloroceryle inda
Other: Martín pescador verdirrufo (Es) • Martim-pescador-da-mata (Br)
Family: Alcedinidae • Kingfishers
Range: Nicaragua to Brazil
Similar: American Pygmy Kingfisher

Just one poor shot of a Green and Rufous Kingfisher in the Pantanal on the banks of the Rio Claro, at Curicaca Lodge. I saw them a couple of times but they seemed less common than the other kingfishers.

Rufous on the entire underside extending to the tail differentiates them from the American Pygmy Kingfisher, which is also much smaller. Some orange on the throat. Females have some green on the upper chest