Pigmy Kingfisher.
Ispidina picta.
A beautiful tiny bird, usually met away from water. Another similar Kingfisher, the Malachite, is met over water.
|
Pigmy Kingfisher. Ispidina picta. A beautiful tiny bird, usually met away from water. Another similar Kingfisher, the Malachite, is met over water. |
| Recognition: Tiny size. Upperparts vivid blue, underparts orange red. Throat, and a spot on the side of the neck, white; sides of the head washed with purple. The bill and feet are bright red. There is no crest to the head.(The Malachite Kingfisher has a crested head and lacks the purplish facial area.) |
| Distribution: Throughout West Africa and beyond; less common in the north. |
| Habits: Usually in pairs, sometimes solitary. The flight is rapid, darting and of short duration. Although an insect-eating species it enjoys a bath, diving into the surface of a puddle repeatedly. Has a curious habit of jerkily raising and lowering the head. During display the head is inclined so that beak and backbone are in line and the short tail is raised. Usually nests in holes in banks that the bird excavates for itself. |
| Call: A shrill piping call, not very loud, of "pee-pee-pee". |
