PHILIPPINE DWARF KINGFISHERS of Polillo

[Ramon Quisumbing]

The day after Tonji and Sylvia Ramos' group visited Polillo Island, our group of birders arrived at Polillo at the invitation of local birder and conservation officer, Bob Natural, who alerted the entire Philippine birding community about the easy sightings of the rare PHILIPPINE DWARF KINGFISHER (Ceyx melanurus).

An uncommon endemic and the tiniest forest kingfisher in the Philippines. This is the melanurus subspecies of Polillo and Luzon.
Taken in Polillo Island, Quezon on 7/28-29/13. This was an exciting LIFER for me!

A pair of PDKFs was nesting on a vertical streambank and perched regularly on the vines in front of their nesting hole. We set up our hides so as not to stress them. The first day was dreary and rainy, and the lighting was not optimal.

Canon 1DX camera, 600 mm lens, tripod.


F/4, ISO-1600, 1/30 second.


F/4, ISO-3200, 1/100 second.

Here is the nesting hole, which is about 1 foot below the top of the slope and 2-3 feet above the water.


On the second day, the sun came out a little bit.

F/4, ISO-1600, 1/125 second.


F/4, ISO-1600, 1/125 second.

About 200 meters up the stream, I chanced upon this PDKF that had caught a lizard for breakfast. This may have been a different PDKF from the nesting pair. Taken from 13 meters away in poor lighting.


What a great birding adventure! Thank you, Bob Natural.

[oscar cablao]

nice capture sir

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Thank you, Oscar.

[Sylvia Ramos]

Nice set Ramon! I like the first one the most, with the glistening branch and beads of water about to drop off! This bird has such a pretty back. I find it more interesting than the front view.

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Thanks, Sylvia, I agree with you completely that the back of the PDKF is more interesting than the front.

[Tateo Osawa]

Beautiful kingfisher nice shots Ramon Q., nicecapture with a lizard. Congratulation.

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Thank you, Tateo-san.

[Neon Rosell II]

Wow! outstanding captures and great documentation, Ramon! Would love to add to the documentation of the birds nesting behavior but I think I'd miss on this one :-( Parole board didn't approve application for good behavior.

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Thanks, Neon, I think that area is PDKF heaven and that there are probably a number of them there.

[Ely Teehankee]

You are the only one who has the Gecko in the mouth of the Kingfisher.
This is because you had the will to look for birds around the area. I wanted to have a second chance on the Philippine Dwarf-Kingfisher and JJ and I waited four hours with the bird not showing up at all. Just as we decided to call it a day and have started to leave the area, the bird landed on its usual perch. With this last chance opportunity, we had the best shots on this trip. Well done Ramon & Mabuhay.

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Thanks, Ely. I was very lucky to get the hunting PDKF with the gecko in its beak, as we were looking for the White-Browed Shama and Rufous Paradise Flycatcher.

[William Lim]

Fantastic captures, Ramon!

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Thanks, Doc William.

[Frederick Arceo]

Amazing shots and nice documentation.

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Thank you, Frederick.

[Tirso Paris]

Wonderful, mouthh watering images Ramon!

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Thank you, Prof. Tirso.

[Nilo Arribas Jr.]

Excellent set, Ramon. The one with a lizard is a bonus. Big congrats!!

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Thanks, Nilo.