Ceyx cyanopectus
The Indigo-banded Kingfisher (Ceyx cyanopectus) is a dazzling jewel of the Philippine avifauna, a small yet spectacularly colored member of the Alcedinidae family, known as the river kingfishers. Measuring approximately 13 cm (5.1 inches) in length and weighing around 18-20 grams, it is characterized by its short tail, robust, bright orange-red bill, and iridescent plumage. Distinctive field marks include its vivid azure-blue upperparts, a prominent indigo-blue band across the breast, and a p...
Primarily inhabits lowland tropical evergreen forests, favoring clear, slow-moving streams, rivers, and ponds with overhanging vegetation. Typically found at elevations from sea level up to around 1,000 meters.
Feeds almost exclusively on small fish, aquatic insect larvae, and sometimes small crustaceans, caught by spectacular plunge-diving from an overhanging perch.
A mostly solitary and diurnal bird, the Indigo-banded Kingfisher typically perches motionless on low branches or roots overhanging water, patiently scanning for prey. Its primary foraging strategy involves a rapid, head-first dive into the water to snatch fish or aquatic insects, returning to its...
The Indigo-banded Kingfisher is endemic to the Philippines, where it is found across a wide range of islands, although its distribution can be somewhat fragmented. Its primary distribution includes the major islands of Luzon, Mindoro, Sibuyan, Catanduanes, and Mindanao, as well as potentially oth...
Least Concern
- The Indigo-banded Kingfisher is one of the smallest kingfisher species, perfectly adapted for navigating dense forest undergrowth. - Its iridescent blue plumage is not due to pigment but to the microscopic structure of its feathers, which scatter light in a way that produces brilliant blue hues...