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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Alcedinidae
  4. ›
  5. Todiramphus
  6. ›
  7. Sacred Kingfisher
Sacred Kingfisher
Photo · no rights reserved

BirdUp · Species

Sacred Kingfisher

Todiramphus sanctus(Vigors & Horsfield, 1827)

Updated 11 June 2026

Conservation status: Least ConcernOrigin: Native
Order
CORACIIFORMES
Family
Alcedinidae
Genus
Todiramphus

At a glance

The Sacred Kingfisher is a medium-sized bird, about 21 cm long, listed as Least Concern and native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
21 cm
Conservation status
Least Concern
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Very common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Sacred Kingfisher look like?

The Sacred Kingfisher is a medium-sized bird, about 21 cm long and weighing 28–75 g.

The sacred kingfisher is a medium-sized woodland kingfisher that occurs in mangroves, woodlands, forests and river valleys in Australia, New Zealand and other parts of the western Pacific.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
21 cm
Weight
28–75 g
Wingspan
29 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Sacred Kingfisher?

The Sacred 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

Tim · Sydney NSW, Australia

Call

Jonathan Mills-Anderson · Brisbane QLD, Australia

Call

Rob Gordon · Mount Burr Trails

Call

Greg Tasney · Burbank QLD 4156, Australia

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Sacred Kingfisher eat?

The Sacred Kingfisher feeds on terrestrial invertebrates, terrestrial vertebrates, intertidal invertebrates and fish/invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or flocks or alone.

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Sacred Kingfisher live in Australia?

The Sacred Kingfisher is native to Australia, recorded across 90 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingOR, AU : Australia, New Caledonia including Loyalty Is., Lord Howe, Norfolk I., New Zealand and east Solomon Is.

Non-breedingTo Indonesian Arch., New Guinea region, Bismarck Arch. and Solomon Is.

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Breeding

8 regions recorded