Activity patterns of kingfisher in Brazilian Pampa

Birds in general are more active at daytime, especially in the first hours after sunrise and before sunset. However, the amount of time devoted to specific activities depends on different variables such as body size, food availability, habitat and environmental characteristics. Birds of Alcedinidae are known as essentially piscivorous, although they also feed on insects and crustaceans. Three species occur in southern Brazil: Chloroceryle amazona, Chloroceryle americana and Megaceryle torquata. In this study we present preliminary information about activity patterns of two species of kingfisher from Brazilian Pampa. Data was collected through direct observations of bird behavior using binoculars (10×42) in two sites: a stretch of river and a stretch of stream. Each site was monitored for two periods of 12 hours, totalizing 48 hours of monitoring, with equal effort from sunrise to sunset. The green kingfisher (C. americana) showed a peak of activity between 12:30 and 2:30 PM, seeming less active at the rest of the day. The amazon kingfisher (C. amazona) showed two activity peaks: one of them in the morning between 9:30 and 10:30 AM, and another one in the afternoon, between 2:30 and 5:30 PM. So the green kingfisher presents its peak of activity in a distinct period compared to amazon kingfisher. This characteristic could reflect a temporal segregation of niche, once both species can be found in same environment and potentially compete for the similar food resources.