Moluccan dwarf kingfisher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Moluccan dwarf kingfisher |
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| Ceyx lepidus | |
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Ceyx
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| Species: |
lepidus
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The Moluccan dwarf kingfisher (Ceyx lepidus) is a small, colorful bird. It belongs to the Alcedinidae family, which includes all kingfishers. This bird was once known as the variable dwarf kingfisher. It lives on islands called the Moluccas.
About Its Name
This kingfisher used to have a different name. It was called the variable dwarf kingfisher. Scientists studied these birds very carefully. They found that many groups of these kingfishers were actually quite different. So, they decided to split them into separate species. This means the Moluccan dwarf kingfisher is now its own unique species. Its name also changed to reflect where it lives.
Where It Lives
The Moluccan dwarf kingfisher lives only in the Moluccas. These are a group of islands in Indonesia. This means it is an "endemic" species. Endemic means it is found naturally in only one specific place.
Its Home
This bird likes to live in forests. You can find it in warm, wet lowland forests. It also lives in bushy areas and near streams. Sometimes, it even lives in old, unused farms. It prefers places with lots of dense plants.
What It Looks Like
The Moluccan dwarf kingfisher is a small bird. It can grow to about 14 cm (5.5 in) long. These birds have a bright blue-black color. Young birds are a little less blue than adults.
Adult birds have an orange spot on their forehead. This spot is surrounded by black feathers. They also have a white triangle on the side of their neck. Their throat is usually white or yellowish-white. The bird's beak is orange-red, and its eyes are dark brown. Its whole belly is bright orange. The tip of its tail is black. Its yellow-orange legs have only three toes. Both male and female kingfishers look very similar.
Life and Reproduction
These kingfishers usually live alone. They mainly eat insects. They often catch dragonflies and other bugs. They do this by flying quickly over forest pools.
When it's time to have babies, a pair of kingfishers works together. They dig a short tunnel in a dirt bank. They might also dig between the roots of a fallen tree. This tunnel leads to a special chamber. The female bird lays two eggs in this chamber.
