Green Kingfisher Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesGreen Kingfisher
Male
Small kingfisher with large bill. Upperparts are metallic green with white spots on wings. Males have a rufous or chestnut wash on the breast.
© Pablo Re / Macaulay LibrarySanta Fe, October 17, 2020Female
Small kingfisher with large bill and stocky shape. Upperparts are metallic green with white collar and white spots on wings. Head often appears rounded rather than crested.
© Brian SullivanPanama, August 11, 2008Female
Small kingfisher with heavy bill and often rounded rather than crested head. Note white in the outer tail in flight. Females have double breast band.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryGuárico, December 27, 2012Not all videos have sound
Male
Small kingfisher with large, heavy bill, often showing rounded rather than crested head. While perched, often jerks the head and tail upward. Males have rufous to chestnut wash on breast.
© Cory Gregory / Macaulay LibraryAlajuela, January 15, 2018Immature
Immatures resemble females but may have a buffy wash on the breast and buffy spots on the crown.
© Rodrigo Ferronato / Macaulay LibraryRio Grande do Sul, April 23, 2016Immature male
Immatures may have a buffy or rufous wash on the breast and buffy spots on the crown. Note extensive white on the outer tail feathers (all ages and sexes).
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryTexas, November 07, 2015Female
Small kingfisher with large, heavy bill. Females have a double breast band and lack rufous on the chest. Note extensive white on the outer tail feathers (all ages and sexes).
© John Deitsch / Macaulay LibraryPuntarenas, July 08, 2019Male
Perches low over water along wooded creeks, streams, ponds, and ditches, then makes quick dives to capture prey. Rarely hovers.
© kenneth reyes / Macaulay LibraryAlajuela, August 11, 2017Similar SpeciesBelted Kingfisher
Female
Belted Kingfishers are larger than Green Kingfishers. They usually show a prominent crest, and they are steely blue on the head and back, rather than green.
© Matt Murphy / Macaulay LibraryTexas, December 07, 2020Similar SpeciesBelted Kingfisher
Belted Kingfishers are larger than Green Kingfishers, with blue, rather than green head and upperparts. Belted Kingfishers are the only kingfisher species in most of the U.S. and Canada, except for southern Texas and Arizona.
© Peter F / Macaulay LibraryIndiana, August 20, 2020Similar SpeciesAmazon Kingfisher
Male
Amazon Kingfishers are larger than Green Kingfishers, with a stronger crest than Green Kingfisher usually shows. Note Amazon's limited white in outer tail, compared to Green's extensive white.
© Carlos Echeverría / Macaulay LibraryPetén, January 10, 2017Similar SpeciesAmazon Kingfisher
Female
Amazon Kingfishers are larger than Green Kingfishers, with a stronger crested appearance and limited white in the outer tail. Female Amazon has one breast band, while female Green has two.
© Dorian Anderson / Macaulay LibraryTexas, November 04, 2016Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Kingfishers(Order: Coraciiformes, Family: Alcedinidae)
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