Able to remain motionless for long periods, it still stands out thanks to its almost iridescent orange plumage. The Madagascar pygmy kingfisher The Madagascar pygmy kingfisher ( Corythornis madagascariensis ) is a small kingfisher measuring 13 cm in length and weighing between 17 and 22 grams. It has an almost fluorescent orange head and back with violet along the margins of the nape and rump. There is a white spot on both sides of the neck that goes towards the nape of the neck. The primary wing feathers are black, while the underparts are white from the chin to the undertail coverts. The sides are reddish, the beak is orange, the eyes are black, and the legs and feet are orange.

The females look very similar to the males.

Juvenile birds are opaque compared to adult birds with reduced violet wash.

These birds are endemic to the island country of Madagascar.

Madagascar kingfishers are found along the western margins of dry deciduous forests below 1,000 meters and rarely above 1,200 meters.

They like to dine on frogs and insects, as well as shrimp. However, they sometimes hunt small reptiles since they do not depend on water.

During the breeding season, which is the rainy season, from October to January, both the male and female build a nest by digging a tunnel about 30 to 35 cm long and 5 centimeters wide in an earthen bank. Up to four eggs are laid, inside which they are incubated by both birds. Incubation is believed to last between two and four weeks.

Although the population of this bird has been declining in recent years, it is still considered to be of least concern on the IUCN Red List.

You can see this bird right here in the video below: