Facts About Philippine dwarf kingfisher
The Philippine dwarf kingfisher is a captivating bird native to the Philippines, belonging to the Alcedinidae family. These birds prefer living in subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests but are unfortunately facing the threat of habitat loss.
The species was first described in 1848 by Johann Jakob Kaup, who named it Alcedo melanura. Previously, in 1799, Bernard Germain de Lacépède reclassified it under the genus Ceyx. Today, there are three recognized subspecies of the Philippine dwarf kingfisher: C. m. melanurus, C. m. samarensis, and C. m. mindanensis. Interestingly, the C. m. mindanensis subspecies is sometimes considered a separate species, known as the south Philippine dwarf-kingfisher (Ceyx mindanensis).
A significant event occurred in March 2020 when Filipino field biologist Michael David De Leon successfully photographed a fledgling of the C. m. mindanensis subspecies for the very first time. This discovery, after a decade of dedicated fieldwork, underscores the commitment and passion of researchers striving to understand and protect these exquisite birds.