Ghana and Ethiopia

The Woodland Kingfisher is distributed in tropical Africa from coast to coast. See the distribution map at Birdlife International.

In Ghana there are two sub-species, H. s. fuscopileus, with a darker grey crown and greyer breast (photo 1), and the nominate, extending across to Ethiopia, H. s. senegalensis which is larger with a paler crown and breast (photos 2 to 4). H. s. fuscopileus is sedentary in the forest zone of the south while H. s. senegalensis is found in the northern savannas and migrates further north from about May until November.

The song is a single sharp note followed by a descending trill.