- Ceyx lepidus
Includes: Seram Dwarf Kingfisher, North Moluccan Dwarf-Kingfisher, Halmahera Dwarf-Kingfisher
Identification
11-13 cm (4¼-5 in); A very tiny kingfisher.
- White bar on neck side
- Orange loral spot
Sexes are alike.
Distribution
South-east Asia: found in the Moluccas (except Buru), Indonesia.
Taxonomy
Formerly included in Variable Dwarf Kingfisher. Some authorities have treated the two subspecies as full species.
Subspecies
Two subspecies are recognized[1].
- C. l. uropygialis on Obi, Bisa, Bacan, Ternate, Halmahera, Tidore and Morotai
- C. l. lepidus on Ambon, Ambelau, Seram, Saparua, Seram Laut and Watubela
Habitat
As most of the kingfisher species this bird is solitary and often more heard than seen near streams and rivers. The nest is a hole dug in the banks.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds on insects captured in flight, spiders and crickets.
Breeding
The nest is usually at the end of a short tunnel in a stream bank.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Gill, F, D Donsker, and P Rasmussen (Eds). 2023. IOC World Bird List (v 13.1)_red. Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.13.1. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Moluccan Dwarf Kingfisher. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 24 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Moluccan_Dwarf_Kingfisher
