From Opus

Adult
Photo by Steve G
Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, Coastal Kenya, August 2007

Ispidina picta

Ceyx pictus

[edit] Identification

Length 12-13 cm, mass 11-19 g
A tiny kingfisher with rufous underparts and a blue back extending down to the tail.

[edit] Similar Species

The dark blue crown of the adult separates it from the African Dwarf Kingfisher.
The smaller size and violet wash on the ear coverts distinguish it from the similar Malachite Kingfisher.

[edit] Distribution

Widespread throughout Sub-Saharan Africa:
Western Africa: Mauritania, Senegambia, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Mali, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo, Angola
Eastern Africa: Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi
Southern Africa: Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland

Immature
Photo by Marc Guyt
Lake Baringo, Kenya

[edit] Taxonomy

There are three subspecies:

• I. p. pictus

• Senegambia to Ethiopia, Uganda, southern Mozambique and Pemba Island

• I. p. ferruginea

• Rainforests of Sierra Leone to Congo Basin and western Uganda

• I. p. natalensis

• Angola to southern Mozambique and South Africa

[edit] Habitat

Woodland pools, moist forest and Bushveld.

[edit] Behaviour

Although it is generally found close to water it actually hunts terrestrial insects and not fish.

[edit] References

1. Avibase

• List of references

[edit] External Links