Appearance
The American pygmy kingfisher is 13 cm long and weighs 10–16 g. It has the typical kingfisher shape, with a short tail and long bill. It is oily green above, with a yellow-orange collar around the neck, rufous underparts and a white belly. The female has a narrow green breast band. Young birds resemble the adults, but have paler rufous underparts, no breast band, and speckled wings and flanks. The nominate southern "C. a. aenea" has two lines of white spots on the wings, while the northern "C. a. stictoptera" has three or four lines of spots and a concealed white patch of feathers on the undertail. The two forms intergrade in central Costa Rica.The call is a gives a weak "tik" or stony "cht cht".
Habitat
This tiny kingfisher occurs in dense forests and mangrove swamps along small streams or rivers with heavily vegetated banks.
Reproduction
The unlined nest is in a horizontal tunnel up to 40 cm long made in a river bank, earth heap, or occasionally an arboreal termite nest. The female lays three, sometimes four, white eggs.
Food
American pygmy kingfishers perch quietly on a low branch close to water before plunging in head first after small fish or tadpoles. They will also hawk for insects. They are not shy, but easily overlooked as they sit silently amongst riverside branches.References:
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