• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Justification of Red List category
This species has a fairly large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (extent of occurrence <20,000 km² combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend is thought to be declining, but probably only slowly and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

Population justification
Poorly known. Described by Allen (2020) as local and uncommon, and the paucity of observations of this species in citizen science data (eBird 2024) would ostensibly suggest that it is a rare species. However, Ceyx are cryptic and have low detectability, with mist-netting proving a far more reliable indicator of their true abundance than walked transects. During mist-netting on Alabat, Ceyx melanurus was the third most commonly caught species (Gomez et al. 2009). Its habitat tolerances are not well understood, but almost all Ceyx are plastic in habitat use, and C. mindanensis, with which this species was formerly conspecific, is apparently highly tolerant of forest modification (de Leon et al. 2018). While its population size is therefore recorded as unknown, given its range covers nearly 80,000 km², even if only a small percentage of this is occupied, the global population size is unlikely to be small.

Trend justification
The only plausible threat to this species is habitat loss and degradation. Although previously often regarded as dependent on virgin forest, it tolerates open forest and secondary growth, as do most Ceyx species (de Leon et al. 2018, Allen 2020, eBird 2024). Global Forest Watch (2024, using data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein) indicates that over the past 10 years, approximately 5-8% of forest canopy cover has been lost, but in many places this has been replaced with plantations, which this species may inhabit, or may have overgrown. Accordingly, this value may not accurately reflect the population trend of this species, which is set to ongoing declines of 0-10% to account for considerable uncertainty. Nonetheless, it seems unlikely that this species is declining more rapidly.

Ceyx melanurus is endemic to the Philippines, where the nominate melanurus is known from the islands of Luzon, Polillo, Alabat, Catanduanes and possibly Tablas (although no recent records/claims from the latter), and C. m. samarensis occurs on Samar and Leyte (Dickinson et al. 1991, del Hoyo et al. 2001).

It is a lowland specialist, inhabiting forest understorey and secondary growth from sea-level to at least 1,050 m. Although it frequents watercourses, mainly small streams, probably for foraging, any association with them appears to be no more incidental than obligate. Its distribution strongly suggests it prefers regions of high rainfall (D. Allen in litt. 2012).

The only identified threat to this species is forest loss and modification, although it is also tolerant of degraded forest. Nonetheless, it is probably declining (slowly) in response to forest losses, which are mostly caused by shifting agriculture, conversion to plantations and, more locally, mining.

12 cm. Tiny, rufous, forest kingfisher. Rufous plumage, washed lilac on ear-coverts, crown, breast and rump. White throat and belly, off-white lores, blue-and-white neck blaze, blackish wings glossed blue and black. Black "V" mark on back. Bright red bill and legs. Subspecies C. m. samarensis larger, darker and washed more with lilac. Voice Thin, high-pitched squeak.

Text account compilers
Berryman, A.

Contributors
Allen, D.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: North Philippine Dwarf-kingfisher Ceyx melanurus. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/north-philippine-dwarf-kingfisher-ceyx-melanurus on 22/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 22/12/2024.