Amazon Kingfisher
This is another large Kingfisher of tropical Central and South America. It closely resembles the smaller Green Kingfisher and can be difficult to separate them. Amazon is usually distinguished by the lack of white spots on its flight feathers (not visible here) but confusingly, Amazon juveniles have white wing spots. Amazon Kingfisher is 28cm long while Green Kingfisher is 19cm long, but Amazon is three or four times heavier. Amazons are occasional wanderers as far north as the US (where Green occurs) and I understand there is one in Texas at the moment that is attracting lots of attention. This is a female, which lacks an orange breast band photographed in Brazil's Pantanal. Its scientific name Chloroceryle amazona literally translates as Amazon Green Kingfisher (or Green Kingfisher of the Amazon).
Amazon Kingfisher
This is another large Kingfisher of tropical Central and South America. It closely resembles the smaller Green Kingfisher and can be difficult to separate them. Amazon is usually distinguished by the lack of white spots on its flight feathers (not visible here) but confusingly, Amazon juveniles have white wing spots. Amazon Kingfisher is 28cm long while Green Kingfisher is 19cm long, but Amazon is three or four times heavier. Amazons are occasional wanderers as far north as the US (where Green occurs) and I understand there is one in Texas at the moment that is attracting lots of attention. This is a female, which lacks an orange breast band photographed in Brazil's Pantanal. Its scientific name Chloroceryle amazona literally translates as Amazon Green Kingfisher (or Green Kingfisher of the Amazon).