- Ceyx websteri
Alternative names: Bismarck Pygmy-kingfisher; Island Kingfisher; Webster's Kingfisher
Identification
22 cm
- Greeny-blue upperparts
- Large creamy-white neck patch
- Pale buff underparts with blue patches on side of breast
- Partial blue collar
- Black bill and legs
Females obviously lack the blue patches on side of breast. Juvenile not described.
Distribution
Found in the Bismarck Archipelago (Papua New Guinea) on New Hanover, New Ireland, Lihir Island, Umboi and New Britain. Also recorded from Feni.
A little-known species with a small range. The population is most probably declining due to habitat loss.
Taxonomy
The species is monotypic.
Sometimes placed in genus Alcedo. Forms a superspecies with Shining-blue Kingfisher, Azure Kingfisher and possibly also Blue-eared Kingfisher.
Habitat
Moist lowland forests, rivers, freshwater lakes, and freshwater marshes.
Found from sea-level up to 250m, probably higher.
Behaviour
Feeds on fish, shrimps and crayfish. Takes also insects and larvae.
Perches on dead tree limbs to dive into water to catch prey, then returns to same place.
A laying female was collected in November. No other information about breeding.
Presumably a sedentary species.
References
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and J Sargatal, eds. 2001. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 6: Mousebirds to Hornbills. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334306
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2012. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2012. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- BirdLife International
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Bismarck Kingfisher. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 13 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Bismarck_Kingfisher
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.
