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Biodiversity

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Green Kingfisher
Chloroceryle americana | Gmelin, 1788

PHOTO: Property of Native / Embrapa

Characterization: Small to medium-sized species measuring about 19cm in length. Its upper parts are dark-green, contrasting with the white base of their external protruding feathers and the silky stripe that connects the base of their beaks to their napes and crossed by a crest. The male's lower part is white, and his chest is striated, while the female's breast has a rusty color.

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

Habitat: Lakes with rich aquatic vegetation, edge of small and large rivers, and mangroves.

Habits: A diurnal, aquatic, and solitary species, it lands on vegetation at the edge of the water (measuring 1 to 3m tall), from where it watches for prey; it will sometimes glide in the air before diving.

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

Breeding: It lays 3-5 eggs in holes dug in river banks, with the tunnel entrance well-hidden by hanging vegetation.

In the UFRA area: This fishing bird is considered rare in the studied farms as it was only seen once. This bird was restricted to restored native forests.