The kingfisher family Alcedinidae consists of three subfamilies, the river kingfishers (Alcedininae), the tree kingfishers (Daceloninae), and the water kingfishers (Cerylinae). Within these subfamilies there are around 90 different species of kingfisher found throughout the world. Kingfishers come in a dazzling array of colors from bright blue and green to more subdued reddish-brown hues. So is there such a thing as a green kingfisher? Let’s take a closer look at some of the greenest kingfishers to find out.
The Common Kingfisher
The common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) is a small kingfisher that lives across Eurasia. It frequents slow moving rivers and streams, canals, lakes, ponds, and coastal areas. The common kingfisher measures around 16-17 cm in length and has a wingspan of 24-26 cm. Its plumage is a striking electric blue on the back and wings with an orange-rust color on the underparts. The female common kingfisher is more brightly colored than the male with a second blue band across the breast.
While the common kingfisher is predominantly blue, it does have green feathers in a few key places. There is a green-blue patch on the sides of the neck. The flight feathers on the wings also have brilliant green edges, visible when the bird is flying. So while not completely green, the common kingfisher does showcase some green plumage accents.
The Green Kingfisher
The green kingfisher (Chloroceryle americana) is a small kingfisher species found from southern Texas down through Central America and into South America. As the name suggests, this kingfisher has predominantly green plumage. The upperparts and wings are a bright emerald green. The underparts are a paler whitish-green fading to white on the throat and belly.
There are three recognized subspecies of the green kingfisher:
- Chloroceryle americana americana – Found from Nicaragua to Bolivia and Brazil
- Chloroceryle americana septentrionalis – Found in southern Texas through Mexico and Central America
- Chloroceryle americana viridipallens – Found in western Ecuador and northwestern Peru
The nominate subspecies C. a. americana is the greenest form. C. a. septentrionalis is duller and greener above with a rufous band across the breast. C. a. viridipallens is the least green with darker green upperparts and rufous underparts with green mottling.
The Green-and-Rufous Kingfisher
The green-and-rufous kingfisher (Chloroceryle inda) is a medium-sized kingfisher found in South Asia. As the name denotes, this kingfisher has a green and rufous (reddish-brown) plumage. The upperparts and wings are a glossy bluish-green in color. The underparts are rufous, including the belly and undertail coverts. There is a white stripe between the green upper breast and the rufous lower breast.
There are three recognized subspecies of the green-and-rufous kingfisher:
- Chloroceryle inda inda – India and Sri Lanka
- Chloroceryle inda syma – Myanmar to Vietnam
- Chloroceryle inda cambodiana – Cambodia and Southeast Thailand
The nominate subspecies has the greenest upperparts plumage. C. i. syma has slightly duller blue-green upperparts. C. i. cambodiana has the least green, with darker blue-green upperparts.
The Amazon Kingfisher
The Amazon kingfisher (Chloroceryle amazona) is found throughout the Amazon basin in South America. The adult Amazon kingfisher has bright green upperparts and wings. The underparts are white with fine dark green barring on the breast. There is a rufous collar across the hindneck. The female has a rufous band across the lower breast as well.
There are four recognized subspecies of the Amazon kingfisher:
- Chloroceryle amazona amazona – Guiana and northeastern Brazil
- Chloroceryle amazona argentata – Southeastern Colombia to central Brazil
- Chloroceryle amazona viridiventris – Western Amazon basin
- Chloroceryle amazona nattereri – Madeira and Tapajós River basins
All subspecies are predominantly green above and white below with some variation in the barring pattern on the underparts. C. a. viridiventris has the most extensive bright green plumage on the underparts.
Other Greenish Kingfishers
In addition to the kingfishers already mentioned, there are a few other kingfisher species that exhibit some green in their plumage even if they are not completely green all over:
- The oriental dwarf kingfisher has green wings and back contrasting with a rufous head and underparts.
- The collared kingfisher has a green back and wings with a white head and underparts.
- The tropical kingfisher has an olive-green back and wings with a purple-blue tail.
- The sacred kingfisher has turquoise-green wings and back with a white collar and underparts.
Why are some kingfishers green?
The green and blue plumage exhibited by many kingfisher species is due to structural coloration. The feathers contain nanostructures that refract light to produce the vibrant green and blue hues. This iridescent coloration is an example of integumentary structural coloration produced by the precise arrangement of melanosomes (pigment organelles) in the feathers.
One theory for why some kingfisher species have evolved green plumage is camouflage. The dazzling green allows kingfishers to blend in amongst vegetation near the waterside habitats where they hunt. Species like the green kingfisher and Amazon kingfisher that hunt from low perches above or along the water likely utilize their green plumage for camouflage from prey like fish and frogs.
Distribution of green kingfishers
The greenest kingfisher species all inhabit tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. The chart below shows the geographic distribution of some of the green kingfishers discussed:
Species | Region |
---|---|
Green kingfisher | Americas |
Green-and-rufous kingfisher | South Asia |
Amazon kingfisher | South America |
Oriental dwarf kingfisher | Southeast Asia |
Kingfishers reach their greatest diversity in the tropical regions where insect and aquatic prey is abundant year-round. The vivid green plumage stands out vividly against the tropical vegetation.
Kingfisher relatives with green feathers
While we have focused on kingfishers, there are a few other bird groups that are relatives of kingfishers and also exhibit brilliant green plumage. These include:
- Bee-eaters (Meropidae) – the green bee-eater has bright green upperparts.
- Rollers (Coraciidae) – the European roller has blue-green wings and back.
- Todies (Todidae) – todies have greenish upperparts and yellow underparts.
So while kingfishers and their relatives come in an array of intense colors, green is a shade commonly seen among many of these iridescent aquatic and insectivorous birds.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while there is no kingfisher species that is completely green all over, there are a number of kingfisher species that have plumage which is predominately green or that contains green feathers on the wings, back, or other body parts. Some examples include the green kingfisher, green-and-rufous kingfisher, Amazon kingfisher, and oriental dwarf kingfisher among others. The bright green plumage seen in these tropical kingfishers is likely an evolutionary adaptation for camouflage near water and vegetation. So while no kingfisher is entirely green, vibrant green feathers are exhibited by kingfishers around the world.