Green Kingfisher

Chloroceryle americana

Explore this bird

Identification

22 cm (8-9") Fairly common in lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas, casual along Texas coast and southeastern Arizona.

Our smallest Kingfisher. Lacks distinct crest.

Male: rufous breast band.

Female: breast band of dark green spots.

Song: rattle is higher pitched and less harsh than Belted's.

Details in the field

3 photos

Credit: Lip Kee Yap

Watch and learn

2 videos

Chloroceryle americana (Green Kingfisher - Martin Pescador verde)

Credit: Pablo Bedrossian

Green Kingfisher. Chloroceryle americana..wmv

Credit: SouthAmericanBirds

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

1 rule

Rule 1 16 criteria confidence 2

What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Green · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Spotted or mottled · Barred crosswise (from side to side) · Dark band or bands running across the breast or neck · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Very long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Green · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Green · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States

result:841-green-kingfisher-female:1:1 Source: 841 Green Kingfisher (Female), row 1

1 rule

Rule 1 15 criteria confidence 2

What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Green · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Very long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Green · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Green · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States

result:840-green-kingfisher-male:1:1 Source: 840 Green Kingfisher (Male), row 1