AZURE KINGFISHER

Description:

Azure Kingfishers are a small aquatic kingfisher. They have a long black bill and whitish rear eye spot. They are dark glossy blue with an orange-rufous underside and orange legs and feet. Males and females look very similar and juveniles are just less vibrant color. Size: 17-19cm Similar Species: Little Kingfisher Forest Kingfisher Australian Distribution: The Azure Kingfisher is found across northern and eastern Australia. This area covers from The Kimberly area of Western Australia, the Top End of the Northern Territory and Queensland and down the east coast to Victoria. Habitat: The Azure Kingfisher found in the riparian zone which is the interface between a water body and the land. They do prefer fresh water creeks and rivers plus lakes, billabongs, swamps and dams. Preferring to sit in the shade, they sit motionless apart from the occasional bob of the head before either diving into the water for a feed or flying off to the next perch. Silent, quick and very hard to spot among the foliage. After many hours observing these colorful characters, I have discovered the secret to spotting them – a characteristic head bob and a short ‘sssst’ as they fly off. Diet: Feeding mainly on small fish, crustaceans and aquatic insects with the occasional amphibians and aquatic invertebrates. Watching them bash a catch against a branch before swallowing head first is a sight worth seeing. Breeding: Azure Kingfishers tend to nest in long burrows in the side of river banks, dams etc. Breeding is from October to March they usually have a clutch of 5 or 6 eggs with both sexes sharing the caring duties. Incubation is 3 weeks with the young fledgling at around 30 days.

Notes:

This one I spotted this morning down by the creek.