The African pygmy kingfisher (Ispidina picta) is a small insectivorous kingfisher found in the Afrotropics, mostly in woodland habitats.
The African pygmy kingfisher is distributed widely in Africa south of the Sahara, where it is a common resident and intra-African migrant. It is absent from much of the horn of Africa, and also the drier western regions of Southern Africa. It is found in woodland, savanna and coastal forest, and it is not bound to water. It is usually found either singly or in pairs and is secretive and unobtrusive.
African pygmy kingfishers nest in burrows that are dug by both sexes in sandy soil banks or into a ground termite nest. The burrows are between 30 and 60 cm (12 and 24 in) in length. The clutch is four to six white eggs. Both parents care for the young. They can have several broods in a year.
The African pygmy kingfisher's diet consists of insects like grasshoppers, praying mantis, worms, crickets, dragonflies, cockroaches and moths. They are also known to take spiders which make up quite a large part of their diet. They also take geckos and lizards that are easily their length and small frogs and even occasionally small crabs. Prey are hunted from low perches and once caught are either crushed in the beak or smashed against the perch.
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The African pygmy kingfisher (Ispidina picta) is a diminutive avian jewel of the Afrotropics, measuring a mere 12 cm in length. Both males and females are similarly adorned with rufous underparts and a striking blue back that cascades down to the tail. A dark blue crown sets the adult apart from its relative, the African dwarf kingfisher.
To distinguish this species, look for the violet wash on the ear coverts and its smaller stature compared to the malachite kingfisher. The subspecies I. p. natalensis, found in the southern reaches of its range, features paler underparts and a distinctive blue spot above the white ear patch. Juveniles present a less pronounced violet on their ear coverts and a black bill, rather than the orange bill seen in adults.
The African pygmy kingfisher is not a bird of the water's edge but rather frequents woodlands, savannas, and coastal forests. It thrives in these terrestrial habitats, often observed alone or in pairs, and tends to be secretive and unobtrusive in its behavior.
This species is widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, commonly residing as a resident and intra-African migrant. It is notably absent from the arid western regions of Southern Africa and much of the Horn of Africa.
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The African pygmy kingfisher is a solitary creature, often found alone or in pairs. Its elusive nature makes it a delightful surprise to spot in the wild.
The call of this kingfisher is a high-pitched, insect-like "tsip-tsip" that can be heard during its flight, adding a sonic sparkle to its visual splendor.
Both sexes of the African pygmy kingfisher partake in the construction of their nest—a burrow in sandy soil banks or termite nests. They lay clutches of four to six pristine white eggs and are known to raise several broods within a single year, with both parents tending to the young.
An insectivore by nature, the African pygmy kingfisher's diet is composed of grasshoppers, praying mantises, worms, crickets, dragonflies, cockroaches, moths, and a significant portion of spiders. It also consumes geckos, lizards comparable to its own length, small frogs, and occasionally, small crabs. Prey is typically hunted from low perches and subdued by crushing in the beak or beating against the perch.
