African dwarf kingfisher facts for kids
The African dwarf kingfisher is a tiny, colorful bird found in the rainforests of Africa. It's a special type of kingfisher, known for being the smallest of all kingfishers! This little bird is different from the Oriental dwarf kingfisher, even though they have similar names. Its scientific name is Ispidina lecontei.
Quick facts for kids African dwarf kingfisher |
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| A close-up of the African dwarf kingfisher | |
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| An older drawing of the bird by John Gerrard Keulemans | |
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Ispidina
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| Species: |
lecontei
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Contents
About the African Dwarf Kingfisher
The African dwarf kingfisher (Ispidina lecontei) is a species of kingfisher. It belongs to a group of kingfishers called Alcedininae, which are often found near water.
How it Got its Name
The African dwarf kingfisher was first described in 1856. An American bird expert named John Cassin gave it its scientific name. He studied a bird specimen collected by Paul Du Chaillu. The second part of its scientific name, lecontei, honors an insect expert named John Lawrence LeConte.
Different Types of African Dwarf Kingfishers
There are two main types, or subspecies, of the African dwarf kingfisher:
- I. l. ruficeps was named by Gustav Hartlaub in 1857. These birds live from Sierra Leone to Ghana, in the rainforests west of the Dahomey Gap.
- I. l. lecontei was named by John Cassin in 1856. These birds are found from southern Nigeria to western South Sudan, Uganda, and central Democratic Republic of the Congo. They also live in central Angola.
What Does it Look Like?
This amazing bird is the smallest kingfisher in the world! It is only about 10 centimetres (3.9 in) (about 4 inches) long. It weighs between 9–12 grams (0.32–0.42 oz), which is about the same as two quarters.
Where Does it Live?
The African dwarf kingfisher makes its home in the beautiful rainforests of Africa. You can find this tiny bird in many countries, including:
- 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
- South Sudan
- Uganda
