African pygmy kingfisher

Introduction: African pygmy-kingfisher (Ispidina picta) are so called because they are the smallest of the African kingfishers. They prefer a woodland habitat, not necessarily near water abut usually found in coastal bush and forest and lush or dry grassy edges and clearing in dense woodland. A feature is their thin, squeaky high-pitched voice, mainly heard during flight.

Distribution: Found only along the Kunene River near Epupa Falls and in the eastern Caprivi regions.

Diet: Catches insects in flight as well as searching the ground for prey. They eat grasshoppers, flies, moths, beetles caterpillars, spiders, millipedes, crabs, small frogs, lizards, skinks and aquatic insects.

Description: Small kingfishers with broad, red flattened bills. Their plumage is blue with a mauve sheen to the back and crown. Ispidina is Latin for resembling the kingfisher and picta is Latin for painted.

Breeding: Between 3 and 6 eggs are laid between September and March in burrows in earthen river banks. Incubation periods are around 18 days and chicks are fed by both male and female for a nestling period of some 18 days.

Size: 13cm.

Weight: 15g.