African Dwarf Kingfisher

African Dwarf Kingfisher

Ispidina lecontei

Silhouette: Rachael Joakim · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
at Semuliki National Park

In 3 days ~60% in a week ~80%

96 Verified sightings at Semuliki National Park From 2019 to 2026
108 In all 3 parks
April Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the African Dwarf Kingfisher

This article discusses the African dwarf kingfisher, which is distinct from the Oriental dwarf kingfisher. The African dwarf kingfisher (Ispidina lecontei) is a species of kingfisher in the Alcedininae subfamily. The African dwarf kingfisher was described in 1856 by the American ornithologist John Cassin from a specimen collected by Paul Du Chaillu. Cassin introduced the current binomial name Ispidina lecontei. The specific epithet was chosen in honour of the entomologist John Lawrence LeConte.

There are two subspecies: This is the world's smallest kingfisher with a length of 10 centimetres (3.9 in) and a weight of 9–12 grams (0.32–0.42 oz). It inhabits African rainforests and 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, South Sudan, and Uganda.

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Sounds

Call0:21

Uganda · 2022

© Peter Boesman · XC739741 · CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Call0:31

Ghana · 2017

© Patrik Åberg · XC400429 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Call0:12

Uganda · 2015

© Martin St-Michel · XC291070 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Semuliki National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~20%
2 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
3 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Kampala 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing an African Dwarf Kingfisher in Semuliki National Park?

Possible

About 20% of wildlife watchers report an African Dwarf Kingfisher sighting in Semuliki National Park on a given day, based on 96 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 74th most-seen of the 280 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 60%, and over a week to about 80%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see an African Dwarf Kingfisher in Semuliki National Park?

January and April

In those months about 40% of wildlife watchers report an African Dwarf Kingfisher in Semuliki National Park on a given day, against about 10% in July and October, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see an African Dwarf Kingfisher?

Between 10 am and 1 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most African Dwarf Kingfisher sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Semuliki National Park the best place to see an African Dwarf Kingfisher?

Yes

Of the 3 parks where we can rate African Dwarf Kingfisher sightings, Semuliki National Park has the highest daily chance: about 20%. Next come Lake Mburo National Park (Uganda, under 5%) and Kibale National Park (Uganda, under 5%).

Where does the African Dwarf Kingfisher sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the African Dwarf Kingfisher is recorded against all the birds logged in Semuliki National Park (96 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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