Forest Kingfisher
Todiramphus macleayii
Silhouette: Steven Traver · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderCoraciiformes (Rollers, Kingfishers, and Allies)
- FamilyAlcedinidae (Kingfishers)
- GenusTodiramphus (Indo-Pacific Kingfishers)
- SpeciesTodiramphus macleayii (Forest Kingfisher)
About the Forest Kingfisher
The forest kingfisher (Todiramphus macleayii), 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.
The forest kingfisher was first described by the naturalists Sir William Jardine and Prideaux John Selby in 1830. It was known for many years by its old scientific name of Halcyon macleayi before being transferred to the genus Todiramphus. The generic name is derived from the genus Todus (Brisson, 1760), 'tody' (a West Indian insectivorous bird) and Ancient Greek rhamphos, 'bill'. The specific epithet honours the Scottish entomologist and Colonial Secretary to New South Wales Alexander Macleay (1767–1848).
Three subspecies are recognised: T. m. macleayi, the nominate subspecies, is found across the Top End eastwards to the Gulf of Carpentaria. T. m. incinctus, described by John Gould, has a greener tinge to its back and is slightly larger. It is found down the east coast of Australia.... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Forest Kingfisher in Kakadu National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Kakadu National Park
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Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kakadu National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Daintree National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Litchfield National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Nitmiluk National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 5 | Springbrook National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 6 | Lamington National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 7 | Noosa National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Forest Kingfisher in Kakadu National Park?
About 50% of wildlife watchers report a Forest Kingfisher sighting in Kakadu National Park, based on 940 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Forest Kingfisher in Kakadu National Park?
December has the highest sighting rate for Forest Kingfisher in Kakadu National Park in our monthly data.