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Kingfishers (Alcedinidae)

Variable Dwarf-kingfisher (Ceyx lepidus) - HBW 6, p. 231

French: Martin-pêcheur gracieux German: Waldfischer Spanish: Martín Pescador Variable
Other common names: Dwarf/Gentian Kingfisher, Variable Kingfisher, Dwarf/Variable Forest-kingfisher; Goodfellow’s Kingfisher (margarethae)

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.

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).

     See all 14 subspecies
  • 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).

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