Identification: The head, wings and back of this kingfisher are rich deep blue with a large buff-white spot on the sides of the forehead. The tail is short and black on the underside. Throat buff merging to a deep cinnamon to rufous-brown on the breast and belly

Call/Song: Makes a shrill peee peee in flight.

Across the northern and eastern coastal regions of Australia, extending south as far as Tasmania.

Habitat:Found along forested creeks, streams and mangrove lined waterways in coastal areas.

Feeding: Eats fish, crustaceans and water insects.

Breeding/Nesting: Breeds September through January, usually producing two broods a year. Drills a tunnel in a stream bank, lined with fish bones, scales and remnants of crustaceans and water insects, as a nest

Movement: A quiet, intent bird, the azure kingfisher will spend over an hour sitting starring into the water, only occasionally bobbing its head. On sighting a fish it will dive in and catch it before returning to perch to consume its catch.

Other Common Names: Blue kingfisher, purple kingfisher, river kingfisher, creek kingfisher, water kingfisher.

Status:

Distribution: Occurs along the creeks that run from the plateau. In particular - the Canungra, the Kerry Valley and along the Coomera River. Most creeks that are lined with thick vegetation which run through farmlands at lower altitudes are good places to observe the bird.

Abundance:Scattered pairs are found along all creeks.

Reader's Digest Services (1979) Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds, Surry Hills, NSW.