The Malaita Dwarf-Kingfisher is endemic to Malaita in the Solomon Islands.
An adult female collected on Malaita in April 1930 had a methyl-blue back and yellow-ochre underparts. It was described as paler overall than Ceyx nigromaxilla from Guadalcanal.
In the 2018 East Kwaio survey, the kingfishers were often caught in forest mist nets but were hard to find during daytime searches in the same forest. Researchers observed two birds roosting in trees about 8 m and 15 m above the ground.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.