Sacred Kingfisher

Sacred Kingfisher Biography
The Sacred Kingfisher is a medium sized kingfisher. It has a turquoise back, turquoise blue rump and tail, buff-white underparts and a broad cream collar. There is a broad black eye stripe extending from bill to nape of neck. Both sexes are similar, although the female is generally lighter with duller upper parts. Young birds are similar to the female, but have varying amounts of rusty-brown edging to feathers on the collar and underparts, and buff edges on the wing coverts.

Although it is a species of kingfisher, Sacred Kingfishers seldom eat fish. Instead, they usually hunt terrestrial prey, mostly taking insects, but they will also eat a wide variety of other small animals, both vertebrate and invertebrate. These food items are most commonly taken on the ground, with the kingfisher swiftly swooping or pouncing down from a branch or some other elevated perch onto the prey, sometimes taking it without landing. The food is then usually brought back to the perch, where it is eaten.

The Sacred Kingfisher is a medium sized kingfisher. It has a turquoise back, turquoise blue rump and tail, buff-white underparts and a broad cream collar. There is a broad black eye stripe extending from bill to nape of neck. Both sexes are similar, although the female is generally lighter with duller upper parts. Young birds are similar to the female, but have varying amounts of rusty-brown edging to feathers on the collar and underparts, and buff edges on the wing coverts.

The Sacred Kingfisher is common and familiar throughout the coastal regions of mainland Australia and less common throughout Tasmania. The species is also found on islands from Australasia to Indonesia and New Zealand.

Sacred Kingfishers forage mainly on the land, only occasionally capturing prey in the water. They feed on crustaceans, reptiles, insects and their larvae and, infrequently, fish. The birds perch on low exposed branch on the lookout for prey. Once prey is located, the Sacred Kingfisher swoops down and grasps it in its bill, returning to the perch to eat it.

For most of the year Sacred Kingfishers are mainly solitary, pairing only for the breeding season. Usually two clutches are laid in a season. Both sexes excavate the nest, which is normally a burrow in a termite mound, hollow branch or river bank. The nest chamber is unlined and can be up to 20m above the ground. Both sexes also incubate the eggs and care for the young.

Sacred Kingfisher

Sacred Kingfisher

Sacred Kingfisher

Sacred Kingfisher

Sacred Kingfisher

Sacred Kingfisher

Sacred Kingfisher

Sacred Kingfisher

Sacred kingfisher

Sacred Kingfisher 2011-12

Sacred Kingfisher