The Woodland Kingfisher is one of the forest-associated kingfishers that can be observed in Uganda. While searching for the African Pygmy Kingfisher in Queen Elizabeth National Park, we encountered this species around three times, making it a familiar and welcome presence during our birding sessions.
Easy to Spot and Visually Distinctive
What stands out immediately is its pale blue plumage, which is highly visible even from a distance. In addition, the Woodland Kingfisher is roughly the size of a Common Kingfisher, making it relatively easy to detect compared to smaller forest kingfishers.
A Favorite for Its Wild Appearance
This was a bird my wife was especially keen to see. She mentioned that its facial expression reminded her of a Ruddy Kingfisher, giving it a slightly wild and rugged look that she found particularly appealing.
I have to agree — among kingfishers, the Woodland Kingfisher has a distinctly “wild” character, both in appearance and presence.
Final Impression
While it may not be the rarest kingfisher in Uganda, the Woodland Kingfisher leaves a strong impression thanks to its color, size, and personality. It was one of those birds that added repeated enjoyment throughout our time in Queen Elizabeth National Park.