The river kingfishers are one of the three families of bird in the kingfisher group. The family is widespread through Africa, through east and south Asia as far as Australia, with one species, the also appearing in Europe and northern Asia. These are brightly plumaged compact birds with short tails, large heads and long bills. They feed on insects or fish, and lay white eggs in a self-excavated burrow. [abstracted from Wikipedia]


Genus Alcedo

Kingfisher, Azure  Alcedo azurea  Found: Australia
Photographed by:  1) JJ Harrison - Julatten, Queensland  2) Stephen Barnett


Kingfisher, Common Alcedo atthis Found: Euope, Asia, Africa, Australia
Photographed by:  1) Ravi Vaidyanathan  2, 3, 4) Lukasz Lukasik







The tree kingfishers are the most numerous of the three families of birds in the kingfisher group. Tree kingfishers are widespread through Asia and Australasia, but also appear in Africa and the islands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, utilising a range of habitats from tropical rainforest to open woodlands. The tree kingfishers are short-tailed large-headed compact birds with long pointed bills. Most are monogamous and territorial, nesting in holes in trees or termite nests. Although some tree kingfishers frequent wetlands, none are specialist fish-eaters. Most species dive onto prey from a perch, mainly taking slow moving invertebrates or small vertebrates. [abstracted from Wikipedia]


Genus Dacelo

Kookaburra, Blue-winged Dacelo leachii   Found: Australia
Photographed by: 1) Adrian Pingstone - Cotswold Wildlife Park, Oxfordshire, England  2) Macinate


Kookaburra, Laughing  Dacelo novaeguineae    Found: Australia
Photographed by: 1, 2) Dick Daniels - Australia   3) JJ Harrison - Tasmania, Australia  4) Toby Hudson - Ashfield, NSW, Australia

Genus Todiramphus

Kingfisher, Collared  Todiramphus chloris  Found: Asia, Australasia
Photographed by: 1) Johnny Wee   2) JJ Harrison - Thailand  3) Tom Tarrant


Kingfisher, Forest  Todiramphus macleayii  Found: Australasia
Photographed by: 1) David Cook - Lake Eacham, QLD, Australia  2) Frank Wouters  
    3) JJ Harrison - Daintree Village, Queensland, Australia


Kingfisher, Red-Backed Todiramphus pyrrhopygius  Found: Australia
Photographed by: Richard Fisher


Kingfisher, Sacred  Todirhamphus sanctus  Found: Australia
Photographed by: 1) David Cook - Willandra National Park, NSW, Australia 2) Oystercatcher