American Pygmy Kingfisher, Chloroceryle aenea

American Pygmy Kingfisher, Chloroceryle aenea. Photograph taken within the Caño Negro Wetlands National Wildlife Refuge in northwestern Costa Rica, February 2023. Photograph and identification courtesy of Dr. Tom Bartol, Carlsbad, California.

Background and Identification

The American Pygmy Kingfisher, Chloriceryle aenea, is a small and vibrant member of the kingfisher family. This species is known for its agile hunting abilities, capable of fast flying and diving underwater for crustaceans and small fish. In Mexico, the American Pygmy Kingfisher is known as Martín Pescador Enano.

The American Pygmy Kingfisher is one of the smallest kingfishers in the Americas measuring around 13 centimeters. This species exhibits sexual dimorphism, helping scientists and birders to distinguish between males and females. Males weigh 10 to 16 grams and females weigh 12 to 16 grams. Males have a bright orange belly and females have a slightly paler underbelly with green bands. Both sexes display iridescent green upperparts and distinctive white spots in front of their eyes. Their large heads, short tails, and long straight bills are consistent with the kingfisher family and aid in their identification. Juvenile American Pygmy Kingfishers have paler underparts than adults and buffy spots on their wings.

Habitat and Geographical Range

The American Pygmy Kingfisher prefers habitats that include dense, lowland forests near slow-moving or standing water such as streams, rivers, ponds, and swamps. Water nearby provides adequate amounts of prey and suitable nesting sites for the kingfishers. Found in a range of tropical and subtropical environments, this species thrives in humid and forested regions.

Geographically, this species is found from southern Mexico through Central America and into South America, extending as far south as Bolivia and Brazil. These regions are full of the Pygmy Kingfishers’ primary food sources, like small fish, insects, and crustaceans.

Common Misidentifications

Despite its distinct colorings, the American Pygmy Kingfisher can be mistaken for other small kingfishers within its geographical range. One frequent source of confusion is the Green Kingfisher, Chloroceryle americana, which shares a similar habitat and overlapping range in Central and South America. The Green Kingfisher is larger and lacks the white spots near the eyes.

Conservation Status

The American Pygmy Kingfisher is currently considered to be of Least Concern with stable widely distributed populations. Despite this, the species faces threats from habitat destruction and degradation due to deforestation, agricultural expansion, and urban development. The estimated global population is 500,000 individuals.