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A mid-sized kingfisher with a variable plumage pattern; nearly 50 subspecies described worldwide.
VIC: Vulnerable
At a glance
FamilyKingfishers
SizeMedium
RarityCommon
HabitatOpen woodland, creek corridors, forest edge, and scattered tall perches near clearings or water.
Best timeMost reliable in Northern Territory from August to October.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Richard E. Webster
Range map
Range map
16approx hotspots
1000approx records
3states
SparseModerateDense hotspot
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
All of them have a greenish-blue crown, a white spot above the lores, a black mask extending down as a narrow band across the hindneck, and a white collar. Upperparts are greenish-blue, rump brighter blue, with blue wings and tail and white underparts. Female and juvenile slightly duller. Subspecies mainly differ in plumage, with upperparts varying from blue to green to olive-toned, white loral spot sometimes extending as a supercilium, and underparts sometimes buffier.
Behavior
Gives various vocalizations, but most common call is a “kek-kek-kek-kek.” Frequents mangroves and tidal creeks, though sometimes inhabits other habitats, including coconut plantations in islands.
Gallery