Megaceryle torquata
This Kingfisher is the largest and the most common of the 4 species of Kingfisher seen in Argentina. We have many at Reserva Don Luis and they like to sit on our bridge and hunt fish.
They measure around 36cm and are gregarious and noisy when disturbed. They utter a rattly sound that imitates a machine gun.
The male has a grey head with crest, grey upperparts and red underparts. There is a pure white band around the neck and it has white undertail coverts.
The female is similar but has a grey breastband replacing the red.
