Dimorphic dwarf kingfisher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dimorphic dwarf kingfisher |
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| Genus: |
Ceyx
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| Species: |
margarethae
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The dimorphic dwarf kingfisher (Ceyx margarethae) is a small, colorful bird that lives only in the central and southern Philippines. It's known for its bright feathers and quick flight. This special bird is part of the Alcedinidae family, which includes all kingfishers.
About the Dimorphic Dwarf Kingfisher
This kingfisher is a small bird with three toes on each leg. It flies incredibly fast, like a bullet, to catch its food. Unlike some other kingfishers, the dimorphic dwarf kingfisher doesn't fish in water. Instead, it hunts for insects and grubs right on the ground. It uses water mainly to clean its feathers.
Where It Lives
The dimorphic dwarf kingfisher lives in warm, wet lowland forests. These forests are found on several islands in the central and southern Philippines. You can find them on islands like Murcia, Negros, Cebu, Camiguin Sur, and Mindanao. They also live on many other smaller islands, including near Mt. Kanlaon.
How Scientists Study Kingfishers
For a long time, the dimorphic dwarf kingfisher was thought to be one of 15 types of a bird called the variable dwarf kingfisher. But scientists used special tools to study the birds' DNA. This study, done in 2013, showed that many of these island kingfishers were actually quite different from each other.
Because of these new findings, the variable dwarf kingfisher was split into several new species. The dimorphic dwarf kingfisher became its own unique species. At the same time, the original variable dwarf kingfisher was renamed the Moluccan dwarf kingfisher. This shows how new discoveries can change what we know about the natural world!
