Habitat
Subtropical and tropical lowland moist forest. Also subtropical and tropical lowland moist shrubland, inland wetlands and plantations. From sea-level to 1,300 m.
Moluccan Dwarf Kingfisher (Ceyx lepidus) [XC531814]
by Marc Anderson from Weda, Central Halmahera, North Maluku, Indonesia (call)
Moluccan Dwarf Kingfisher (Ceyx lepidus) [XC497728]
by id from Weda, Central Halmahera, North Maluku, Indonesia (call)
Subspecies
Philippine form that was formerly considered a full species, "Ceyx goodfellowi", but subsequently shown to be variant of the subspecies margarethae of this species. Birds of Buka and Bougainville have sometimes been separated as subspecies pallidus, but now considered more appropriately lumped into meeki.
The following 14 subspecies are recognised:
margarethae Blasius, W, 1890 - Banton, Tablas, Romblon, Sibuyan, Semirara, Negros, Cebu, Olango, Siquijor, Camiguin Sur, Mindanao, Basilan, Malamaui, Jolo, Tawitawi and Bongao (central and southern Philippines). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Dimorphic Dwarf-Kingfisher (Ceyx margarethae).
uropygialis Gray, GR, 1861 - Morotai, Halmahera and Ternate, Tidore, Bacan, Bisa and Obi (northern Moluccas). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, North Moluccan Dwarf-Kingfisher (Ceyx uropygialis).
wallacii Sharpe, 1868 - Sula Is (Seho, Taliabu, Mangole, Sanana). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Sula Dwarf-Kingfisher (Ceyx wallacii).
cajeli Wallace, 1863 - Buru (southern Moluccas). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Buru Dwarf-Kingfisher (Ceyx cajeli).
lepidus Temminck, 1836 - Ambelau, Ambon, Seram, Saparua, Seram Laut and Watubela (southern Moluccas).
solitarius Temminck, 1836 - Western Papuan Is, islands in Geelvink Bay, Aru Is, and mainland New Guinea eastern (including Kairiru I and Karkar I) to D'Entrecasteaux Is. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, New Guinea Dwarf-Kingfisher (Ceyx solitarius).
dispar Rothschild and Hartert, 1914 - Manus I in Admiralty Is (north-western Bismarck Archipelago). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Manus Dwarf-Kingfisher (Ceyx dispar).
mulcatus Rothschild and Hartert, 1914 - New Hanover, New Ireland, Tabar Is and Lihir Is. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, New Ireland Dwarf-Kingfisher (Ceyx mulcatus).
sacerdotis E. P. Ramsay, 1882 - New Britain, and nearby islands of Umboi, Lolobau and Watom. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, New Britain Dwarf-Kingfisher (Ceyx sacerdotis).
meeki Rothschild, 1901 - Buka and Bougainville east to Choiseul and Santa Isabel (western and central Solomons). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, North Solomons Dwarf-Kingfisher (Ceyx meeki).
collectoris Rothschild and Hartert, 1901 - New Georgia Group (west-central Solomons). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, New Georgia Dwarf-Kingfisher (Ceyx collectoris).
nigromaxilla Rothschild and Hartert, 1905 - Guadalcanal (eastern Solomons). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Guadalcanal Dwarf-Kingfisher (Ceyx nigromaxilla).
malaitae Mayr, 1935 - Malaita (eastern Solomons). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Malaita Dwarf Kingfisher (Ceyx malaitae).
gentianus Tristram, 1879 - San Cristobal (eastern Solomons). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, San Cristobal Dwarf-Kingfisher (Ceyx gentianus).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet