Birds of the World
Explore Taxonomy
Order
Coraciiformes
Family
Alcedinidae
Genus
Ceyx
Surprise Me
Previous Papuan Dwarf-Kingfisher
Next New Ireland Dwarf-Kingfisher
- Manus Dwarf-Kingfisher
© Joshua Bergmark | Ornis Birding Expeditions
- Manus Dwarf-Kingfisher
- Manus Dwarf-Kingfisher
- Manus Dwarf-Kingfisher
- Manus Dwarf-Kingfisher
Watch

Manus Dwarf-Kingfisher Ceyx dispar Scientific name definitions

Josep del Hoyo, Nigel Collar, and Guy M. Kirwan
Version: 1.0 — Published March 4, 2020
Text last updated April 1, 2015

Sign in to see your badges

Originally Appeared in

HBW Alive

Field Identification

14 cm; 20 g. Small, blue-and-orange kingfisher with a bright orange bill. Male has largely royal-blue head, with small white patch behind ear-coverts, orange lores and white throat, deep orange underparts and blue upperparts, with a paler, bright blue dorsal stripe on back and rump. Female differs in having most of head orange, with blue restricted to rear crown, below white spot behind ear-coverts and variably in the moustacial region. Male is very similar to C. collectoris of New Georgia, but the latter is not sexually dimorphic, while C. solitarius of New Guinea has an all-dark bill, and C. sacerdotis of New Britain has a dark maxilla.

Systematics History

Until recently considered a race of C. lepidus (which see), but molecular analysis suggests species status (1) and this is supported by morphological evidence: present species differs from all other taxa formerly grouped under Variable Dwarf-kingfisher in its sexually dimorphic female with buffy-orange head and malar (4); much broader, more complete shining mid-blue back to uppertail-coverts (3). Monotypic.

Subspecies

Monotypic.

Distribution

Manus I, in Admiralty Is (NW Bismarck Archipelago).

Habitat

Occurs in forested habitats, not necessarily near watercourses, and may tolerate secondary forest and plantations as do other Ceyx.

Movement

Sedentary.

Diet and Foraging

Nothing known.

Sounds and Vocal Behavior

Not specifically described, but is not known to differ from other forms belonging to the C. lepidus complex in Melanesia.

Breeding

No information.

Conservation Status

Conservation status on Birdlife NT Near Threatened

Not globally threatened. Currently considered Near Threatened. Restricted-range species: endemic to Admirality Islands EBA. The population size has not been estimated, but the species occurs at low densities and the overall population is presumed to be moderately small and is suspected to be declining locally due to ongoing habitat destruction. In 1987, 80% of vegetation on Manus (1900 km²) was estimated to be primary forest, but large areas of the island’s lowlands are now logged or under logging concessions and in coastal areas the forest is being eroded by shifting cultivation. Information on the species’ ecology and behaviour is urgently required.

Distribution of the Manus Dwarf-Kingfisher - Range Map
Enlarge
  • Year-round
  • Migration
  • Breeding
  • Non-Breeding
Distribution of the Manus Dwarf-Kingfisher

eBird and Macaulay Library

Recommended Citation

del Hoyo, J., N. Collar, and G. M. Kirwan (2020). Manus Dwarf-Kingfisher (Ceyx dispar), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.vardwk7.01
Birds of the World

Partnerships

A global alliance of nature organizations working to document the natural history of all bird species at an unprecedented scale.

American Ornithological Society Audubon Panamá A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute Armonia Bolivia Aves Argentinas Avibase Aves Uruguay Birds Caribbean Bird Count India IUCN SSC Heron Specialist Group Conservación de Islas Corbidi Fundación Ñankulafkén Instituto Humboldt Lynx Malaysian Bird Report Oikonos Oriental Bird Club Ornithological Society Of The Middle East The Caucasus And Central Asia RED DE OBSERVADORES DE AVES Y VIDA SILVESTRE DE CHILE Roberts Birds Save Brasil Sociedad Ornitològica de Córdoba Taiwan Biodiversity Research Institute Union Venezolana De Ornitologos