the green kingfisher , chloroceryle americana , is a resident breeding bird which occurs from southern texas in the usa south through central and south americal to central argentina .
this small kingfisher breeds by streams in forests or mangroves .
the nest is in a horizontal tunnel up to a metre long made in a river bank .
the female lays three , sometimes four , eggs .
the green kingfisher is {convert|19|cm|in} long and weighs {convert|27|g|oz} .
it has the typical kingfisher shape , with a short tail and long bill .
it is oily green above , with white markings on the wings and tail , and a white collar around the neck .
males have white underparts apart from a broad chestnut breast band and some green spotting on the flanks .
females have buff-white underparts with two green chest bands , the lower of which links to the green spotting along the sides of the belly .
green kingfishers are often seen perched on a low shaded branch close to water before plunging in head first after their fish prey .
they also eat aquatic insects .
these birds often give a pebbly rattling call .
variation in this species is clinal .
there are five subspecies:birds occurring on trinidad and tobago , usually included in americana , have a larger and heavier bill than the mainland forms , and are sometimes separated as subspecies croteta .
