Ceyx nigromaxilla
The Guadalcanal Dwarf Kingfisher, Ceyx nigromaxilla, is an exquisite and elusive jewel endemic to the Solomon Islands, distinguished by its diminutive size, typically measuring only 12-14 cm (4.7-5.5 inches) in length. Its most striking features include a brilliant iridescent blue crown, back, and wings, contrasting sharply with rufous-orange underparts and a pristine white throat. A critical field mark for identification, even among its closely related Ceyx counterparts, is its entirely blac...
Found in lowland and hill primary and mature secondary forests, favoring areas near small, clear streams, rivers, and ravines, typically at elevations up to 900 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on small beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, and spiders, supplemented by small aquatic invertebrates and occasionally tiny fish caught from shallow stream waters.
This species is highly solitary and notoriously elusive, often perching motionless for extended periods in dense undergrowth, making it incredibly difficult to observe despite its vivid coloration. Its primary foraging strategy involves 'sally-pouncing' from low perches onto small terrestrial inv...
The Guadalcanal Dwarf Kingfisher is strictly endemic to Guadalcanal, the largest island within the Solomon Islands archipelago, situated in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. Its range is confined to the interior regions of the island, where it inhabits primary and mature secondary lowland and hill ...
Near Threatened
- One of the smallest kingfishers globally, often weighing less than 20 grams. - Its scientific name, Ceyx nigromaxilla, directly translates to 'black jaw', referring to its distinctive entirely black upper mandible. - This species is a true island endemic, found nowhere else in the world except ...