Birds of Singapore
by the Bird Society of Singapore
Ceyx rufidorsa
Family: Kingfishers · Status: Former resident and very rare visitor · Size: 12.5–14 cm · Conservation: Least Concern
Resident in the Thai-Malay peninsula, Sundaic Islands, and parts of the Philippines.
Tiny kingfisher; overall light orange underparts with white chin and throat, vivid orange bill and feet. Subspecies rufidorsa has rufous upperparts and wing coverts, white patches on sides of neck, with varying amounts of lilac wash on crown, mantle, back, and rump; amount of black on wings varies but mostly rufous. Separated from Black-backed Dwarf Kingfisher by rufous (not dark blue) mantle; much smaller and more iridescent than Ruddy Kingfisher.
Forest with dark undergrowth, often near streams and pools; also wooded areas and mangroves.
Feeds on insects, lizards, fishes, and amphibians.