About the American Pygmy Kingfisher
The American pygmy kingfisher is a species of "water kingfisher" in subfamily Cerylinae of family Alcedinidae. It is found in the American tropics from southern Mexico south through Central America into every mainland South American country except Chile and Uruguay. It also occurs on Trinidad.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The American pygmy kingfisher is about 13 cm (5.1 in) long. Males weigh 10 to 16 g (0.35 to 0.56 oz) and females 12 to 16 g (0.42 to 0.56 oz). It has the typical kingfisher shape, with a shaggy crest and long heavy bill. The bill is black with some pale yellow at the base of the mandible and its legs and feet are pinkish to light gray. Males of the nominate subspecies have a dark glossy green head and upperparts with a golden wash separated by a narrow rufous collar. Their tail is a bluer green. They have black lores with a thin rufous line in front of the eye. Voice: The American pygmy kingfisher makes a "eak, repeated 'tik' or 'dzit, tsweek' sometimes faster as a rattle or chatter". What is thought to be its song is "a series of musical chirps."
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Argentina.
When to see it
Peak activity in March · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Green-and-rufous KingfisherChloroceryle indaThe green-and-rufous kingfisher is about 24 cm (9.4 in) long.
Amazon KingfisherChloroceryle amazonaThe Amazon kingfisher is about 30 cm (12 in) long.
Green KingfisherChloroceryle americanaThe green kingfisher is about 20 cm (8 in) long and weighs about 35 to 40 g (1.2 to 1.4 oz); females are larger and heavier than males.
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