New Britain Dwarf-Kingfisher
Ceyx sacerdotis
A small kingfisher with deep purplish-blue upperparts and fiery orange underparts with a white neck spot and bright orange legs. Bill is blackish-red above and purer red below, but appears entirely red in the field. Prefers mature and dense secondary forest, often perching low. No other dwarf-kingfisher shares its range. Told from Common Kingfisher by smaller size and red rather than black bill. Call apparently nearly identical to that of other Melanesian dwarf-kingfishers: a high-pitched, weak repetitive whistle, often given in flight.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Ceyx sacerdotis
- Authority
- Ramsay, EP, 1882
- Order
- Coraciiformes
- Family
- Alcedinidae
- Genus
- Ceyx
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Rufous-headed Woodpecker
Celeus spectabilis
This spectacular woodpecker is medium-sized with a rufous head, black-and-cream patterned body, and plain rufous wings. Sexes are similar, but males have a red mustache. Unlikely to be confused, although compare with the more common Ringed Woodpecker, which has a rufous (not cream-colored) back, a paler head, and black markings on the flight feathers. Also note Rufous-headed is a habitat specialist, most often found in stands of bamboo or cane, especially along large rivers. Rare and local, Rufous-headed is shy and usually requires specific effort to find.
New Caledonian Whistler
Pachycephala caledonica
Orangey-yellow and olive whistler with a gray head and contrasting white throat. Female is much plainer, dull olive-brown with paler underparts and whitish throat. Found throughout New Caledonia, preferring native forests but somewhat tolerant of disturbed habitats. Best found through its distinctive relatively low-pitched, snappy up-down clear whistled song.
Azure-crowned Hummingbird
Saucerottia cyanocephala
Medium-sized hummingbird of oak and pine-oak woodlands and adjacent shrubby clearings; also local in lowland pine savannas. Sexes look alike and often look rather dull overall, despite the name. Note the whitish throat and breast offset by a dusky vest, and the dusky brownish rump and tail. Crown and sides of head are blue (rarely catching the light), with a white spot behind the eye and some red at base of bill.
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