Black-backed Dwarf-KingfisherCeyx erithacaA brilliantly colored, tiny forest kingfisher with a coral-red dagger bill. It has a dark blue back and wings and pale orange underparts. Crown is fuschia-red, with a dark spot on the forehead and blue and white patches on the side of the neck. Chin and throat are white. Found along drying hill streams, and often away from water sources. Flight is swift and direct, as the bird expertly maneuvers through thick vegetation. Gives piercing high, thin calls, often when in flight.Alcedinidae bird family
Order Coraciiformes · 5 selected species
Browse verified BirdLens profiles selected for complete taxonomy, substantial descriptive coverage, and visual evidence. Open a species to compare its identification notes, distribution, behavior, sounds, and maps.
Black-backed Dwarf-KingfisherCeyx erithacaA brilliantly colored, tiny forest kingfisher with a coral-red dagger bill. It has a dark blue back and wings and pale orange underparts. Crown is fuschia-red, with a dark spot on the forehead and blue and white patches on the side of the neck. Chin and throat are white. Found along drying hill streams, and often away from water sources. Flight is swift and direct, as the bird expertly maneuvers through thick vegetation. Gives piercing high, thin calls, often when in flight.Black-backed Dwarf-KingfisherCeyx erithacaA brilliantly colored, tiny forest kingfisher with a coral-red dagger bill. It has a dark blue back and wings and pale orange underparts. Crown is fuschia-red, with a dark spot on the forehead and blue and white patches on the side of the neck. Chin and throat are white. Found along drying hill streams, and often away from water sources. Flight is swift and direct, as the bird expertly maneuvers through thick vegetation. Gives piercing high, thin calls, often when in flight.
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisBeautiful little blue-and-orange bird with a long, pointed bill. Often rather shy and inconspicuous despite bright plumage. Found along rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds—almost any fresh or brackish habitat with small fish. Often perches quietly in trees over water; most often seen in very fast low flight as a turquoise flash over the water, usually flying away. Easily detected once its high, shrill whistled call is learned, even if the bird itself is hidden. The only small blue kingfisher over much of its range.
Laughing KookaburraDacelo novaeguineaeCommon, very large kingfisher with a dark eye and brown cheek patch. In Queensland take care to identify from Blue-winged Kookaburra, which has a pale eye and a pale streaked head. Typical calls include an immediately recognizable and distinctive laugh, which gives the species its common name. Abundant in parks, towns, forests, and campgrounds.
Ringed KingfisherMegaceryle torquataLargest kingfisher in Americas with exceptionally enormous bill and raucous calls. Blue-gray with shaggy crest, white collar, and rufous belly. Male and female similar, but note different breast pattern: entirely rufous on male, while female has blue-gray band bordered by white. Often conspicuous, searching shallow water for fish from a prominent perch and chattering noisily when disturbed. Singles or pairs are also often observed flying high overhead and giving loud "keck" calls. Nests in burrows excavated in banks, generally along watercourses.