Papuan Dwarf-Kingfisher Ceyx solitarius Scientific name definitions

12 cm; male 11–21 g, female 13–24 g. Small kingfisher with three toes. Adult has deep blue upperparts, becoming paler blue on back and rump, and crown and wing-coverts display paler blue spotting that glitters like sequins; underparts honey-golden; bill black, legs and feet yellow orange. Female reportedly duller than male, but not reliably separated in the field. Juvenile obviously duller than adult and can show dark scaling on breast. Sympatric C. azureus is larger with more uniformly coloured upperparts, while Alcedo atthis (which is also locally sympatric, along coasts) is also larger, with paler upperparts that are more heavily spotted; both these species are strictly tied to water.

W Papuan Is (Batanta, Misool, Salawati, Waigeo), islands in Geelvink Bay (Biak, Yapen), Aru Is, and mainland New Guinea E (including Kairiru I and Karkar I) to D’Entrecasteaux Is, Fergusson and Normanby Is.

A single (but frequently repeated), high-pitched “tseet” or “ss” note  , given both perched and, more especially, in flight, similiar to call of C. azureus and also to calls of some pgymy-parrots (Micropsitta), although these latter usually issue from high in the canopy.

Not globally threatened. Species is widely distributed, and is common in many areas. Density on mainland New Guinea suggested to be one bird/10 ha, but study in Crater Mountain Wildlife Management Area, in E Papua New Guinea, recorded densities of up to 36 individuals/km², with highest numbers in primary forest and old gardens at elevations below 650 m, but were much lower above this. Unclear if present on island of Goodenough. More information on the species’ ecology and behaviour is urgently required.