Characterization: Small species measuring about 29.5 cm in length. It has a metallic green plumage on its upper body parts, its flanks are striated and it has a kind of white collar that begins at the base of its beak; the male's breast has a rusty color, while the female is stained green.

Distribution: From Texas and Mexico to Argentina and throughout Brazil.

Habitat: Edges of rivers, lakes, lagoons, mangroves, and other water bodies, usually with sunny shores.

Habits: A diurnal, aquatic, and solitary species, this bird remains most of the time perched on branches that are exposed to the sun watching the water; it rarely glides in the air before diving.

Diet: Carnivorous, feeding mainly on fish and butterflies, wasps, winged ants, small beetles, cicadas, and dragonflies.

Breeding: It lays 2-4 eggs in long, winding galleries dug in riverside banks and measuring about 1.5m deep.

In the UFRA area: This bird species is considered rare in the studied areas, as it was seen only once. Its occurrence was restricted to restored native forests.