Indigo-banded kingfisher

The Indigo-banded kingfisher (Ceyx cyanopectus) is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae. It is endemic to the Philippines found on the islands of Luzon, Mindoro, Masbate and the Western Visayas region

Indigo-banded kingfisher
A male Northern indigo-banded kingfisher
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Coraciiformes
Family:	Alcedinidae
Subfamily:	Alcedininae
Genus:	Ceyx
Species:	C. cyanopectus
Binomial name
Ceyx cyanopectus Lafresnaye, 1840
Subspecies
C. c. cyanopectus - Lafresnaye, 1840 C. c. nigrirostris - Bourns & Worcester, 1894
Synonyms
Alcedo cyanopecta Lafresnaye, 1840 [orth. error] Alcedo cyanopectus

Description and taxonomy

Ebird describes it as "A dazzling little kingfisher of streams with vegetated banks from the lowlands to low elevations in the mountains. Deep indigo-blue above with a pale turquoise band down the back and speckling on the wing and head. Note pale cheek and throat patches and bright orange chest and belly. Males have a blue band across the upper chest, and some have an incomplete band across the lower chest."

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized:

• C. c. cyanopectus — Known as the Northern Indigo banded Kingfisher; Found on Luzon, Polillo, Mindoro, Sibuyan, Masbate and Ticao,
• C. c. nigriostris -— Known as the Southern Indigo banded Kingfisher; Found on Panay, Negros and Cebu, though possibly extinct on Cebu or was listed as an error.

Southern birds have an all-black bill, while northern ones have a red lower bill and more blue on the sides. The Handbook of the Birds of the World considers them as separate species.

Ecology and behaviour

A male Northern indigo-banded kingfisher

The indigo-banded kingfisher feeds on fish and aquatic insects. It perches on rocks and overhanging branches and foliage and dives steeply into the water to catch its prey. Once caught, it returns the prey to the perch where it is beaten and swallowed. Little is known about its breeding behaviour, although it is known to nest in tunnels dug into the banks of streams and rivers.

Habitat and conservation status

Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests up to 1,500 meters above sea level but usually much lower. It prefers streams and rivers with densely forested banks. It is somewhat tolerant of secondary forests.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature recognizes the Northern and Southern indigo-banded kingfisher as separate species thus has an assesment for each.

Northern indigo-banded kingfisher (C. c. cyanopectus)

The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as generally rather common. It is classified as a Least-concern species with the population believed to be decreasing.

Southern Indigo-banded kingfisher (C. c. nigriostris)

Southern indigo-banded kingfisher
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Coraciiformes
Family:	Alcedinidae
Subfamily:	Alcedininae
Genus:	Ceyx
Species:	C. amethystinus
Subspecies:	C. a. nigrirostris
Trinomial name
Ceyx amethystinus nigrirostris Bourns & Worcester, 1894

Considered uncommon in its range. Negros is one of the most deforested islands in the country with just 4% remaining forest cover in 1988 and is only found in the remnant forests. Range in Panay has not been fully surveyed but they may persist in larger numbers. IUCN estimates the population to be 1,000 - 2,499 mature individuals with the population continuing to decline.

Both subspecies are declining due to habitat loss and deforestation. There are no targetted conservation programs for either sub-species.

Conservation actions proposed is further surveys especially for the more threatened Southern subspecies to be able to better understand its population and biology.