Forest Kingfisher

Todiramphus macleayii
Photo: Shirley Hitschmann

Photo: Stephen Goldsworthy

Photo: Stephen Goldsworthy

Bird Description:

Bright, electric blue with crisp white underparts, the Forest Kingfisher looks like a flying jewel darting through the trees. It favours open woodlands, paperbark forests, and the edges of wetlands—often perched low on branches, silently scanning for prey.

Special features:

Unlike the fishing kingfishers, this one is a land hunter—feeding mostly on insects, small reptiles, and even frogs. It has a sharp, chirpy call and a compact, no-nonsense flight style.

Did you know?:

Forest Kingfishers are often seen in pairs during the breeding season, nesting in termite mounds in trees or arboreal hollows. They defend their patch boldly, despite their dainty size.

View more information on this bird at Birdlife Australia: https://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Todiramphus-macleayii

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