Animalia Life

Chloroceyle amazona
SUBFAMILY
Cerylinae
TAXONOMY
Alcedo amazona Latham, 1790, Cayenne. Monotypic.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
French: Martin-pкcheur d’Amazonie; German: Amazonasfischer; Spanish: Martin Pescador Amazуnico.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
12 in (30 cm), 3.5–4.9 oz (98–140 g). Very large, metallicgreen kingfisher, with white underparts and collar. Flanks streaked with green, breast band rufous (male) or green (female). Long heavy black bill.
DISTRIBUTION
Mexico, central and South America, east of Andes and south to northern Argentina.
HABITAT
Large rivers, lakes and estuaries, especially along more open shores, up to 8,202 ft (2,500 m) above sea level.
BEHAVIOR
Most often perched about 16 ft (5 m) up in large tree overlooking water. Sometimes bobs head or pumps tail. Utters loud harsh barks, singly or in rapid series.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Aquatic diet, mainly of 0.4–6.7 in (10–170 mm) long fish, especially characid species, and some crustacea. Dives into water after prey from perch, rarely after hovering briefly.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Both members of monogamous pair excavate nest tunnel in earth back near water. Lays two to four eggs, incubated for 22 days by female at night and mainly by male by day. Nestling period 29–30 days.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened. Widespread and common, at densities of up to 1/km (large rivers), 4/km (streams) and even 5–6/km (lakes) at center of range. Occurs alongside four other species, two of similar size, two smaller, that may affect abundance, ecology, and success.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.

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