Ceyx lepidus
Small kingfisher with 3 toes. Both sexes of nominate race have orange loral spot, white bar on side and neck, blackish head and wing spotted with dark blue, brilliant ultramarine -blue balck, silvery blue rump. Buffy white chin and throat, rest of under parts rich orange to orange yellow. Juvenile darker above, less blue, bill orange with dusky base and pale tip. Races vary in plumage coloration.
Not Threatened.
Small kingfisher with 3 toes. Both sexes of nominate race have orange loral spot, white bar on side and neck, blackish head and wing spotted with dark blue, brilliant ultramarine -blue balck, silvery blue rump. Buffy white chin and throat, rest of under parts rich orange to orange yellow. Juvenile darker above, less blue, bill orange with dusky base and pale tip. Races vary in plumage coloration.
14 cm, male 11-21 g, female 13-24 g
Taxonomy:
- Ceyx lepida Temminck, 1836, Ambon. Shows similarities in plumage to species of Alcedo, and has often been allocated to that genus, but feeding ecology much closer to that of other Ceyx species. Philippine form that was formerly considered a full species, “Ceyx goodfellowi”, subsequently shown to be variant of the race margarethae of present species. Birds of Buka and Bougainville have sometimes been separated as race pallidus, but now considered more appropriately lumped into meeki. Fourteen subspecies currently recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- * margarethae A. W. H. Blasius, 1890 - Banton, Tablas, Romblon, Sibuyan, Semirara, Negros, Cebu, Olango, Siquijor, Camiguin Sur, Mindanao, Basilan, Malamaui, Jolo, Tawitawi and Bongao (C & S Philippines). * uropygialis G. R. Gray, 1860 - Morotai, Halmahera and Ternate, Tidore, Bacan, Bisa and Obi (N Moluccas). * wallacii Sharpe, 1868 - Sula Is (Seho, Taliabu, Mangole, Sanana). * cajeli Wallace, 1863 - Buru (S Moluccas). * lepidus Temminck, 1836 - Ambelau, Ambon, Seram, Saparua, Seram Laut and Watubela (S Moluccas). * solitarius Temminck, 1836 - W Papuan Is, islands in Geelvink Bay, Aru Is, and mainland New Guinea E (including Kairiru I and Karkar I) to D’Entrecasteaux Is. * dispar Rothschild & Hartert, 1914 - Manus I in Admiralty Is (NW Bismarck Archipelago). * mulcatus Rothschild & Hartert, 1914 - New Hanover, New Ireland, Tabar Is and Lihir Is. * sacerdotis E. P. Ramsay, 1882 - New Britain, and nearby islands of Umboi, Lolobau and Watom. * meeki Rothschild, 1901 - Buka and Bougainville E to Choiseul and Santa Isabel (W & C Solomons). * collectoris Rothschild & Hartert, 1901 - New Georgia Group (WC Solomons). * nigromaxilla Rothschild & Hartert, 1905 - Guadalcanal (E Solomons). * malaitae Mayr, 1935 - Malaita (E Solomons). * gentianus Tristram, 1879 - San Cristobal (E Solomons).
Primary and secondary forest, monsoon forest, thick vegetation along stream rivers. From the coast up to 1300 m. It is not dependent on water.
Sedentary.
Insect, such as dragonflies, mayflies, midges, grasshoppers and locust, crickets, also spiders, and small frogs and tadpoles. Sits on low branches.
Lays in Nov-Jan in PNG. Nest in an earth or streamside bank, in earth around roots of a fallen trees. Or in termite nest. 5-7.5 cm in diametre. Clutch 2 eggs. no further info.