Azure Kingfisher Ceyx azureus Scientific name definitions

18 cm; male 29–32 g, female 31–35 g. Male nominate race rufous loral spot, large white neck patch , deep ultramarine-blue upperparts extending as patch on side of breast; chin and throat buffish-white, breast and belly orange-rufous , prominent violet wash on flanks; bill black, extreme tip whitish; iris dark brown, legs and feet orange-red. Female slightly duller than male, less violet on flanks. Juvenile duller, paler, bill with large whitish tip. Races show minor differences in size and colour compared with nominate: affinis has brighter blues, bill tip reddish, longer wing; yamdenae like previous, but smaller; <em>lessonii</em> slightly darker upperparts, paler underparts, less violet flanks; <em>ochrogaster</em> even paler below; <em>ruficollaris</em> has richer colours , shorter wing and tail, longer bill; diemenensis larger, crown and rump darker, more violet-blue.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Coastal wooded watercourses, estuaries, tidal creeks and lagoons, mangroves, Melaleuca and sago swamps, also inland at wooded creeks, rivers, lakes, swamps, and forest streams and pools; rarely, on mudflats or sandy beaches, irrigation canals, riverside parks and duck ponds. Sea-level and lower altitudes, to 1520 m in New Guinea.

Mainly sedentary, but juveniles disperse varying distances, and some adults wander widely when not breeding, resulting in sporadic occurrences. Seasonal movements in some localities, e.g. more common in austral summer in Tasmania and parts of Victoria. In Australia, 99% of 175 recoveries of ringed birds were less than 10 km from ringing site, and longest movement only 10 km.

Mainly small fish  (Cypri­nidae, Salmonidae); also crustaceans (Malacostraca, Parastacidae), and water beetles (Coleoptera), bugs (Hemiptera), dragonflies (Anisoptera), occasionally locusts (Orthoptera), spiders, small frogs and tadpoles. Sits on a perch 1–10 m above water, occasionally bobbing head or cocking tail, or moving whole body up and down; then plunges  into water  for prey and returns with it  to perch  , where the prey is battered before being swallowed head first; sometimes hovers  briefly before diving into the water. In a deep dive the whole body is streamlined, but in a shallow one the wings are half-open. Occasionally takes insects in flight, or terrestrial beetles from the ground. Will follow a foraging platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) to catch fish and shrimps disturbed by it.

Short, repeated, high-pitched “pseet” in flight; also continuous high-pitched whistle  by several birds during wing-waving display; repeated shrill calls when alarmed; young have twittering begging call or thin feeble squeaks.

Lays in Sept–Apr in N Australia, in Aug–Feb in S Australia; double-brooded in SE Australia (Victoria). Territorial, pair occupying 200–1600 m of suitable river or shoreline. Nest  excavated by both of pair, in bank of stream, river, lake or billabong, sometimes in mangroves, or occasionally in soil around roots of an uprooted tree or in road verge, which can be several 100 m from water; in Australia, uses bank 0·9–3 m high, with tunnel 0·6–3 m above water; tunnel 15–88 cm long, 4–7 cm in diameter, and slightly inclined, ending in unlined chamber 12–15 cm in diameter. Clutch 4–7 eggs  , usually 5 or 6 in Australia; both parents incubate, period 20–22 days; both feed chicks 21–35 days; nest becomes fouled with faeces and food remains, and adults often bathe after brood-feeding; adults continue to feed young for a short time after fledging, and while incubating second clutch of eggs. Nests sometimes destroyed by floods; nest contents occasionally preyed on by brown snake (Demansia). A ringed bird in Australia lived for over 11 years.

Not globally threatened. Widely distributed, in a range of habitats; widespread in N, becoming more coastal in S Australia. Some mortality caused by birds colliding with windows; greater threat from river pollution, and from increased turbidity caused by human activity and introduced European carp (Cyprinus carpio). Was formerly shot for its plumage.