Current view: Data table and detailed info
Taxonomic note
Ceyx erithaca and C. rufidorsa (Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International 2023) were previously lumped as C. erithaca (del Hoyo and Collar 2014) despite being previously split following Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993). Lim et al. (2010) make a convincing case for species-level genetic differentiation (see under C. erithaca). In rufidorsa lack of blue-black on wings and dorsal area with associated dark frons and ear-coverts (4), slightly larger average size, with deeper bill, longer wing and longer tarsus (Lim et al. 2010) (ns), non-migratory vs migratory habits (1). The zone of intergradation was previously thought to be broad but is now known to be narrow, supporting species status for rufidorsa. Population of Simeulue and Batu sometimes separated as subspecies jungei and that of Nias as subspecies captus, but both now seem better included within rufidorsa; birds of Mindoro (Philippines) have at times been separated as subspecies vargasi. Original specific name rufidorsa is a noun, and therefore remains unchanged, irrespective of gender of genus in which placed (David and Gosselin 2002). Two subspecies currently recognized.
Taxonomic source(s)
Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International. 2023. Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International digital checklist of the birds of the world. Version 8. Available at: https://datazone.birdlife.org/userfiles/file/Species/Taxonomy/HBW-BirdLife_Checklist_v8_Dec23.zip.
IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Red List history
| Migratory status |
not a migrant |
Forest dependency |
medium |
| Land-mass type |
|
Average mass |
- |
Population justification: The global population size of this species has not been quantified, although in Indonesia (which, in terms of area, represents the bulk of its range), it is described as 'uncommon' (Eaton et al. 2021). In frequently-observed parts of its range (especially Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah), this species is evidently locally common (eBird 2023), but is tied to forest. Although no reliable density has been calculated for C. rufidorsa, its range contains several tens of thousands of km2 of suitable habitat, thus even accounting for occupancy and habitat niche, its global population size is likely to be relatively large.
Trend justification: Habitat loss is the principal threat to this species, especially in the Greater Sundas. Across its range, forest cover has reduced by 12-13% over the past ten years (2013-2023) (Global Forest Watch 2023, based on data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein). As a forest-dependent species, this is thought to have broadly equivalent impacts on the species' population size, noting also that it (1) is tolerant of some degradation; but (2) that it may also be impacted by habitat fragmentation. Equating for the introduction of these two uncertainties, the population is suspected of having declined by 10-19% in the last ten years. Similar rates of forest loss are suspected to occur in the short-term future, although these may begin to slow in the mid-term as a greater proportion of the species' range lies within protected areas. Moreover, this species' tolerance of secondary forests suggest that declines may be at least partially reversible, if an increasing area within its range can be adequately protected.
Country/territory distribution
Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Rufous-backed Dwarf-kingfisher Ceyx rufidorsa. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/rufous-backed-dwarf-kingfisher-ceyx-rufidorsa on 25/11/2024.
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 25/11/2024.
