Black-backed Dwarf Kingfisher

Black-backed Dwarf Kingfisher

Scientific Name: Ceyx erithaca

Malay Name: Rajaudang-Api Belakang Hitam

Chinese Name: 三趾翠鸟

Alternative Name(s): Black-backed Kingfisher

Range: Found from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, southern China to Southeast Asia with some northerly populations wintering south.

Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: erithaca, macrocarus.

Local Subspecies: erithaca

Size: 12.5-14 cm

Identification: Very distinctive looking with a combination of rufous-yellow underparts, lilac-tinged crown with blue patches at rear of ear-coverts, reddish bill, whitish throat, dark bluish upper back and scapulars, blackish wings and bright lilac rump/uppertail-coverts. Separated from the similar Rufous-backed Dwarf Kingfisher by the blue-black (not rufous) mantle. While Rufous-backed can sometimes have much black on the wings, the mantle is always rufous in that species.

Similar looking species: Rufous-backed Dwarf Kingfisher

Habitat: Forests, gardens, parks, wooded areas and mangroves.

Behaviour/Ecology: Feeds on insects, lizards, fishs, and amphibians. Often visits forest streams at dusk to bathe.

Local Status: Uncommon migrant and very rare visitor

Conservation Status: Near Threatened (BirdLife International 2023)

Location: Central Catchment Forest, Venus Drive, Lower Pierce Boardwalk, Bidadari, Sungei Buloh, Lorong Halus and Tuas South.

Featured articles:

Featured reports: Apr 2022, Oct 2022, Nov 2022, Dec 2022, Jan 2023, Feb 2023, Mar 2023, Oct 2023, Nov 2023, Jan 2024, Mar 2024

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Black-backed Dwarf Kingfisher Ceyx erithaca
Estimated average number of individuals by week based on eBird data, Jul 2014 to Jun 2024
Peak week Oct 08-Oct 14
Early date 08 Aug 2018
Late date 06 Apr 2009
One of the most sought-after birds for bird photographers in Singapore, and a few are recorded at various sites every year from Sep to Nov.
Black-backed Dwarf Kingfisher at Bidadari. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Black-backed Dwarf Kingfisher at Tuas South. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Black-backed Dwarf Kingfisher at Tuas South. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Black-backed Dwarf Kingfisher at Bidadari. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Black-backed Dwarf Kingfisher at Venus Drive. Photo Credit: Alan Ng
Black-backed Dwarf Kingfisher at Bidadari. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Black-backed Dwarf Kingfisher at Bidadari

External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Black-backed Dwarf-Kingfisher)

References:

BirdLife International. (2023). Ceyx erithaca. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2023. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T61658565A95175087.en. Accessed on 1 January 2024

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Black-backed Dwarf Kingfisher. Retrieved on October 31, 2024 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/black-backed-dwarf-kingfisher.

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