Photo: Kirkamon Cabello / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Southern Silvery Kingfisher
Ceyx argentatus
Southern Silvery Kingfisher (Ceyx argentatus) — Kingfishers & Rollers of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Southern Silvery Kingfisher (Ceyx argentatus) is a member of the Alcedinidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 17.8 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Coraciiformes
- Family Alcedinidae Kingfishers
- Genus Ceyx
- Species argentatus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 17.8 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Alcedinidae
- Order
- Coraciiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Southern Silvery Kingfisher hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of rivers and riverside habitats, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Southern Silvery Kingfisher is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Southern Silvery Kingfisher (Ceyx argentatus) is a member of the Alcedinidae family, within the order Coraciiformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Mindanao, Basilan, Dinagat and Siargao (s Philippines).
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 17.8 g, with a wing length of about 5.9 cm and a tail of around 2.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 97,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Southern Silvery Kingfisher?
The Southern Silvery Kingfisher is a small bird that weighs around 17.8 g.
Where does the Southern Silvery Kingfisher live?
The Southern Silvery Kingfisher is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Mindanao, Basilan, Dinagat and Siargao (s Philippines), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Southern Silvery Kingfisher belong to?
The Southern Silvery Kingfisher (Ceyx argentatus) belongs to the Alcedinidae family, in the order Coraciiformes.
What does the Southern Silvery Kingfisher eat?
The Southern Silvery Kingfisher hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Southern Silvery Kingfisher migrate?
The Southern Silvery Kingfisher is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Southern Silvery Kingfisher endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Southern Silvery Kingfisher make?
1 real field recording of the Southern Silvery Kingfisher — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Southern Silvery Kingfisher's range?
The Southern Silvery Kingfisher has a mapped global range of about 97,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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