biology

Moluccan dwarf kingfisher

Moluccan dwarf kingfisher is a biology topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Moluccan dwarf kingfisher rather than just read about it. In short: The Moluccan dwarf kingfisher (Ceyx lepidus), formerly known as the variable dwarf kingfisher, is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae. Taxonomy This species was previous named the variable dwarf kingfisher and had 15 recognised subspecies.

Key takeaways

Moluccan dwarf kingfisher belongs to biology; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Moluccan dwarf kingfisher to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Moluccan dwarf kingfisher from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The Moluccan dwarf kingfisher (Ceyx lepidus), formerly known as the variable dwarf kingfisher, is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae.

Taxonomy This species was previous named the variable dwarf kingfisher and had 15 recognised subspecies. A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2013 found that most of the taxa had substantially diverged from each other. The species was therefore split and 12 of the subspecies were promoted to species status. At the same time the name was changed to the Moluccan dwarf kingfisher. Some taxonomic authorities further split this species into the Seram dwarf kingfisher, and refer to the other group as the North Moluccan dwarf kingfisher. The Seram dwarf kingfisher is then limited to the southern Moluccas.

Distribution This species is endemic to the Moluccas.

Habitat It is a sylvan species. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, shrubland, wetlands, abandoned plantations and dense vegetation along streams.

Description Ceyx lepidus can reach a body length of about 14 cm (5.5 in). These small birds show a brilliant blue-black basic color. Juveniles show a slightly less blue color than adults. In adult the forehead is marked with an orange spot surrounded by black. A white triangle is present on the side of the neck. The throat is usually white or yellowish-white, The bill is orange-red and the eyes are dark brown. The entire underside is bright orange. The end of the tail is black. The yellow-orange legs consist of only three toes (tridactyl feet). The appearance is similar in males and females.

Biology These birds are solitary and insectivorous. They usually prey dragonflies and other insects by means of a rapid, direct flight over the forest pools. The coupled pair dig a short gallery in an embankment, a bank or between the roots of an overturned tree. The gallery leads to a laying chamber in which the female lays two eggs.

References

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Moluccan dwarf kingfisher

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Moluccan dwarf kingfisher claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In biology, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Moluccan dwarf kingfisher before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Moluccan dwarf kingfisher ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Moluccan dwarf kingfisher

In research: Moluccan dwarf kingfisher appears in biology research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Moluccan dwarf kingfisher in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Moluccan dwarf kingfisher is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Birds described in 1836, Ceyx (bird), Coraciiformes stubs, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Moluccan dwarf kingfisher outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Moluccan dwarf kingfisher in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Moluccan dwarf kingfisher means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Moluccan dwarf kingfisher out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Moluccan dwarf kingfisher in simple terms?

The Moluccan dwarf kingfisher (Ceyx lepidus), formerly known as the variable dwarf kingfisher, is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae. Taxonomy This species was previous named the variable dwarf kingfisher and had 15 recognised subspecies.

Why does Moluccan dwarf kingfisher matter?

Because it connects several biology ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Moluccan dwarf kingfisher?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Moluccan dwarf kingfisher.