Six possible kingfisher species in Costa Rica (photos from Wikimedia, see links on individual photos below)

18 February 2026 from my Road Scholar birding trip to Costa Rica in January 2026

Costa Rica has five kingfisher species all year long plus a sixth present during North America’s winter. We were lucky to have a Kingfisher Sweep of all six on a single day at Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge on 23 January 2026. Here’s what we saw.

Ringed Kingfisher Megaceryle torquata

Largest of the six, ringed kingfishers range from southern Texas to South America. They are solitary except during the breeding season when they nest in holes in river banks like their close relatives the belted kingfisher. Size: male 254–330g, female 274–325g.

Ringed kingfishers, male (photo from Wikimedia Commons)

Though ringed kingfishers are very large, they sometimes catch a fish too big to eat.

Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon

Second largest on the list and familiar throughout North America, the belted kingfisher winters as far south the Caribbean coast of South America. He’s the sixth species, but only in winter. Size: 140-170 g

Belted kingfisher, male, Patuxent (photo from Wikimedia Commons)

Amazon Kingfisher Chloroceryle amazona

Third largest on the list, the Amazon kingfisher is “a resident of lakeshores and large-slow flowing rivers from northern Mexico south to central Argentina,” according to Birds of the World.  Size: male 98–121 g, female 125–140 g

Amazon kingfisher, male (photo from Wikimedia Commons)

We saw an Amazon kingfisher beating and eating a very large fish.

American Pygmy Kingfisher Chloroceryle aenea

American pygmy kingfishers are tiny! Except for their huge beaks they are half the size of a house sparrow. Size: male 10–16g, female 12–16g (House sparrow is 27-29g)

American pygmy kingfisher (photo from Wikimedia Commons)

To give you an idea of his size, here’s my cellphone photo of one perched on a small branch above the water. Can’t find him? Click on the image to see a circle around him.

American pygmy kingfisher perched on a small branch over water, 23 Jan 2026 (photo by Kate St. John)

Green Kingfisher Chloroceryle americana

Ranging from southern Texas to South America the green kingfisher weighs less than a northern cardinal. Size: 35–40g

Green kingfisher, male (photo from Wikimedia Commns)

Green-and-rufous Kingfisher Chloroceryle inda

Not large, but fourth largest on the list, “the green-and-rufous kingfisher is found around streams and rivers, from southeast Nicaragua south through the rest of Central America and across much of the northern two-thirds of South America, south as far as eastern Paraguay.” — Birds of the World Size: male 40–60g, female 53–62g

Green-and-rufous kingfisher (photo from Wikimedia Commons)

Because they live in sun-splashed shade green-and-rufous kingfishers can be difficult to see and photograph.

Green and rufous kingfisher, Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, 23 Jan 2026 (photo by Erick Guzman)