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Azure Kingfisher

(Alcedo azurea)
Alternative names: "Blue Kingfisher", "Water Kingfisher", "River Kingfisher"
Size: 17-19 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

There are three races of Azure Kingfisher in Australia. The range of race "ruficollaris" extends from the Kimberleys in WA across the top end of the NT to the southern tip of the Gulf of Carpentaria, plus the entire Cape York peninsula. Nominate race "azurea" is found throughout the eastern half of QLD and NSW, plus all of VIC and the Murray River catchment in the south. Along the north, west and south coast of Tasmania race "diemenensis" is found.

Azure Kingfishers are found in dense growth around rivers, creeks and mangrove swamps.

Sightings

We have seen an Azure Kingfisher, race "ruficollaris", in the Northern Territory in 1997.

Spottings in the area where we live, near Narrabri, NSW, are rate. In February 2006 we came across an Azure Kingfisher of the nominate race "azurea" south of Boggabri, NSW, on the banks of the Namoi River. The next sighting came in Septmeber 2008, at Rocky Creek, some 50 km north-east of Narrabri, where we saw a bird skimming along a waterpool at breakneck speed, only 10-20 cm above the water's surface.

Photos

Race "ruficollaris"

Azure Kingfisher ("ruficollaris") in a tree overhanging a river bank (a bit unsharp)

Food

Like other kingfishers, Azure Kingfishers prey on small fish and yabbies, which they catch diving into water.