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Kingfishers 1/3

Alcedinidae: Ispidina picta (Pygmy Kingfisher)

Alcedinidae: Alcedo cristata (Malachite Kingfisher)

There are twelve species of kingfisher which have been observed in Kenya, though three of these are very rare. We saw five of these species.

The African Pygmy Kingfisher is about 12cm in length. It is a woodland bird, and eats insects, rather than fish. It was seen in the lodge garden at Maasai Mara.

The Malachite Kingfisher was seen in the dusk, fishing at Nakuru. It is is about 18 cm in length.

These two species can be mistaken for each other, but the distribution of orange, white and blue around the head tells them apart.