African Dwarf Kingfisher

The African Dwarf Kingfisher is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family. It is found in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, and Uganda. This is the world's smallest kingfisher, at 9 grams and 10 cm.

The African Dwarf Kingfisher is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

The African Dwarf Kingfisher (Ceyx lecontei) is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family. It is found in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, and Uganda. This is the world's smallest kingfisher, at 9 grams and 10 cm. References - * BirdLife International 2004. Ceyx lecontei. More

But in the adult African dwarf kingfisher it is blunt-tipped (sharp in the juvenile). For no obvious reason, several not-closely related lineages of kingfishers are three-toed, having lost the fourth toe. Plumage and other characters show that three-toed species are very closely allied with some four-toed species in the genera Ceyx and Alcedo, and thatthe three-toed kingfishers do not comprise single natural assemblage as they were formerly held to do. Although colorful, the colors are in general muted, with shades of blue and red predominating. More

The African dwarf kingfisher is classified as Corythornus lecontei (several other genera have been applied to this species), the laughing kookaburra as Dacelo novaeguineae, the belted kingfisher as Ceryle alcyon, and the ringed kingfisher as Ceryle torquata. The other four species inhabiting the Americas are classified in the genus Chloroceryle. Kingfisher Microsoft® Encarta® Encyclopedia 2001. © 1993-2000 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. More

The smallest species of kingfisher is the African Dwarf Kingfisher, at 4 inches. The largest, the Giant Kingfisher, tops out at an average of 13.5 oz and measuring 18 inches. The Australian kingfisher normally weighs about a pound! Please visit Tropical Birds for information about tropical birds. More

Alternate common name(s): African Dwarf Kingfisher, African Dwarf-Kingfisher Old scientific name(s): Ceyx lecontei, Myioceyx lecontei, Corythornis lecontei Photographs No photographs are available for this species Range W. and c. Africa; Three populations; (1) Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, s. Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, Central African Republic, n. and e. Zaire, ex. s. Sudan s. to nw. Angola and s. Zaire. (2) W. Uganda. More