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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Alcedinidae
  4. ›
  5. Todiramphus
  6. ›
  7. Forest Kingfisher
Forest Kingfisher
Photo · (c) Donald Davesne, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Forest Kingfisher

Todiramphus macleayii(Jardine & Selby, 1830)

Updated 11 June 2026

Origin: Native
Order
CORACIIFORMES
Family
Alcedinidae
Genus
Todiramphus

At a glance

The Forest Kingfisher is a small bird, about 18–21 cm long, native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
18–21 cm
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Very common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Forest Kingfisher look like?

The Forest Kingfisher is a small bird, about 18–21 cm long and weighing 29–44 g.

The forest kingfisher, also known as Macleay's or the blue kingfisher, is a species of kingfisher in the subfamily Halcyoninae, also known as tree kingfishers. It is a predominantly a blue and white bird. It is found in Indonesia, New Guinea and coastal eastern and Northern Australia. Like many other kingfishers, it hunts invertebrates, small frogs, and lizards.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
18–21 cm
Weight
29–44 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Forest Kingfisher?

The Forest Kingfisher is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

04 · Voice

What it sounds like

Call

Martin Rady · Burbank, AU-QL, AU

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Forest Kingfisher eat?

The Forest Kingfisher feeds on terrestrial invertebrates and terrestrial vertebrates, usually foraging in pairs.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

3 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Forest Kingfisher live in Australia?

The Forest Kingfisher is native to Australia, recorded across 36 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingSouth-east New Guinea and north-central and east Australia

Non-breedingTo south-east Moluccas and south New Guinea

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Breeding
  • Vagrant

8 regions recorded