English         -          Ringed Kingfisher

Portuguese  -          Martim-pescador-grande

Latin             -          Megaceryle torquata

The ringed kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata) is a large, conspicuous and noisy kingfisher commonly found along the lower Rio Grande valley in southern Texas, through to Central America and as far south as Argentina. They frequent large, slow running rivers and varied types of waters such as lakes, marshes, estuaries, coastal lagoons, rice fields, canals, mangroves and open beaches. This bird can be found in heavily wooded areas, however, it is most common in open areas such as open shorelines and pools near larger waterbodies.

It is around 40 cm in length and weighs around 340 grams. It has a deep blue or bluish-grey plumage with white markings, a shaggy crest and a broad white collar around the neck. Its most distinguishing characteristic is the entire rufous belly, which covers the entire breast of the male. Females are more colourful than the male and have a bluish-grey breast and a narrow white stripe separating the breast from the belly.

It hunts for its food by perching high (usually between 15-35 feet off the ground, higher than any other species of kingfisher) and watches the water. When it spots a fish (or other prey) close to the surface, it plunges headfirst, catching the fish in its bill. Seldom hovers over the water before diving. The Ringed Kingfisher feeds mainly on fish. (as big as 20 centimetres in length) It can also preys on amphibians such as frogs and salamanders, reptiles, crabs and insects, and occasionally small mammals and berries.

Breeding season varies according to location.
The Ringed Kingfisher is usually a solitary nester. The nest-site is often situated in riverbanks, or banks of lagoons or lakes, but also uses eroded gullies far from water to construct its nest. They burrow a tunnel in a side of a bank which is excavated by both adults. The entrance is about about 10 centimetres in diameter and often 2-3 metres long. At the end of the tunnel there is a nest chamber which is larger than the entrance of the tunnel. Female lays 3-6 white eggs and both parents incubate the eggs for around three weeks until the chicks hatch. The chicks are fed by both adults for the first 5 weeks, after that they are ready to leave the “nest” and learn to be kingfishers. Parents still look after the young for sometime after they leave the “nest”.

The fact that the Ringed Kingfisher has an extremely large range and a large population which by some reports is increasing, this species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion. For these reasons the species is evaluated to “as Least Concern”. 

Both photos of the (Male) Ringed Kingfisher were taken at Ilha do Frade - Vitoria - Espirito Santo

English         -          Chalk-browed Mockingbird

Portuguese  -          Sabiá-do-campo

Latin             -           Mimus saturninus

The Chalk-browed Mockingbird was once described by Charles Darwin (when he was visiting Uruguay) as “possessing a song far superior to that of any other bird he had come across. 

The Chalk-browed mockingbird, a small, ubiquitous passerine, with a conspicuous white supercillium, or ‘eyebrow’, sandwiched between a blackish eye stripe and a dark grey crown. The upper-parts of its body are predominately greyish brown, while the flight feathers and the long semi-erect tail are blackish, with white tips. Below, the throat and belly is a greyish white, but the flanks are often streaked with darker markings. It weighs between 30 - 35 grams and is around 23 cm in length. Across the chalk-browed mockingbird’s broad range, four subspecies, which exhibit minor differences in body size, bill length and plumage, are currently recognised: Mimus saturninus saturninus, M. s. frater, M. s. arenaceus, and M. s. modulator.

 It is a found in most parts of Brazil, and parts of Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, and Suriname. It’s a bird of open wooded areas, including urban and suburban gardens.

The  Chalk-browed Mockingbird is omnivorous. Its diet of consists of various insects, spiders, worms, fruit, seeds and berries, and occasionally the eggs and nestlings of other birds. 

Although it forages mainly on the ground, it will regularly perch in low bushes or trees, especially during the breeding season when the males will spend long periods of time singing. Breeding occurs from September to January with each monogamous pair often accompanied by several helpers that assist with territorial defence, nest-guarding and feeding the young. A clutch of three to four eggs is laid in a small, loosely constructed nest and incubated for 12 to 15 days. After hatching the young are confined to the nest for another 12 to 15 days, and are fed by the parents for around a week after fledging. The juveniles then remain in their parental territory through the non-breeding season and potentially as helpers over the subsequent breeding season. The nests of the chalk-browed mockingbird are commonly parasitised by shiny cowbirds which lay their own eggs in the nests of the mockingbirds. This typically results in the mockingbird unwittingly incubating the eggs of the shiny cowbird and rearing its young, often to the detriment of its own.

The Chalk-browed Mockingbird is classified as “Least Concern”. It does not qualify for a more at risk category as it is a widespread and abundant species.

Photo # 1 was taken at Praça Dr. Carlito L. Von Schilgen - Praia do Canto, Vitória - Espírito Santo

Photo # 2was taken at Praia da Costa - Vila Velha ES.

English         -         Campo troupial

Portuguese  -         Corrupião

Latin             -          Icterus jamacaii

The Campo troupial or Campo oriole is one of the more striking birds that you will come across with its orange and black colouration. It has a black hood, back and wings in which the wings have a visible white spot. and Black tail. The neck, lower portion of the chest and belly have an intense orange coloration. The eyes are clear and the beak is black and pointed with a blueish colouration at the base. It measures between 23 and 26 centimetres in length. The male weighs around 67 grams and the female weighs around 58 grams.

The Campo troupial is Omnivorous. It feeds on fruits, seeds, insects, spiders and other small invertebrates. It also eats the yellow flowers of the Mulungu tree which turns its plumage into a very intense orange.

Found exclusively in Brazil, it is found in all states of the Northeast, Midwest and Southeast; Extending westward to the states Goiás and Tocantins. It is common in open and dry areas as well as edges of forests clearings, in humid regions but close to water,  not only to quench its thirst but to bath and keep its feathers in top condition. 

The Campo troupial can builds his own nest, but often occupies the nest of others birds. It has been known to evict other birds from their nests and throw out the chicks of the evicted birds if there should be any present. They can have 2 to 3 clutches per year and lay 2 or 3 eggs at a time. The chicks hatch after 14 days. Both parents will feed the chicks for an additional 21-23 days, until the juvenile birds are able to leave the nest and begin foraging independently.

The Campo troupial is classed as a species “of least concerned”. The reason for this is that they have a wide range and there numbers are believed to be stable. 

The 2 photos of the Campo troupial were taken in Santa Teresa - Espirito Santo