The largest and boldest member of the Chloroceryle genus, a striking bird that lives along rivers, lakes, swamps, and streams throughout Central and South America. About the size of a pigeon, it has the classic kingfisher silhouette: a stocky body, a large head, and a long, straight bill perfect for snatching fish. Its plumage is vivid and unmistakable: shimmering green upperparts, a white throat and collar, and in males, a bold chestnut band across the chest. Females lack the chestnut band but have green spotting on their flanks, giving them a subtler but still beautiful appearance. This sexual dimorphism helps distinguish pairs in the wild.
Amazon kingfishers are solitary hunters, often seen perched quietly on branches overhanging the water, where they sit motionless, scanning for prey. Their preferred meals are small fish, but they also eat crustaceans and aquatic insects. When a target is spotted, the bird dives swiftly and cleanly, using its long, pointed bill like a spear. After surfacing, it returns to its perch to swallow the fish headfirst. Its silent flight and patience make it a precise and efficient predator. Unlike some smaller kingfishers that flit nervously between perches, the Amazon kingfisher seems calm and deliberate—like a seasoned fisherman who knows when and where to cast the line.
Breeding behavior adds even more intrigue to this bird’s life. During nesting season, Amazon kingfishers dig tunnels into riverbanks using their strong feet and bills. These tunnels can be over a meter long and end in a nesting chamber where the female lays three to five eggs. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs and feeding the chicks, which grow quickly and fledge in just a few weeks. This type of underground nesting provides safety from most predators, but rising water levels during floods can sometimes wipe out nests—a common threat in tropical environments.
Distribution
Argentina
Aruba
Belize
Bolivia
Brazil
Colombia
Costa Rica
Ecuador
El Salvador
French Guiana
Guatemala
Guyana
Honduras
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Trinidad & Tobago
Uruguay
VenezuelaAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
