• 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
This species is 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 often proving dwarf-kingfishers previously thought of as quite rare, to be quite common. This species' former conspecific, North Philippine Dwarf-kingfisher Ceyx melanurus, for example, similarly has fewer records in citizen science data, but was found to be common during mist-netting (e.g. Gomez et al. 2009). It seems likely therefore that Ceyx mindanensis is commoner than records suggest, especially given its tolerances of heavily degraded forest (see, e.g., de Leon et al. 2018). While its population size is therefore recorded as unknown, given the size of Mindanao (nearly 100,000 km²), 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). Global Forest Watch (2024, using data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein) indicates that over the past 10 years, approximately 10-12% 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 0-15% to account for considerable uncertainty.

Ceyx mindanensis is endemic to the Philippines, where it is known from the islands of Mindanao and Basilan (Collar et al. 1999).

It is a lowland specialist, inhabiting forest understorey and secondary growth/open forest from sea-level to at least 750 m, perhaps up to 1,000 m.

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 and conversion to (mostly rubber) plantations.

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. platenae larger, more lilac, less black in wings. Subspecies C. m. samarensis larger, darker and washed more with lilac. Voice Thin, high-pitched squeak.

Text account compilers
Berryman, A.

Contributors
Allen, D.

---

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: South Philippine Dwarf-Kingfisher Ceyx mindanensis. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/south-philippine-dwarf-kingfisher-ceyx-mindanensis 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.