Azure Kingfisher
Ceyx azureus
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderCoraciiformes (Rollers, Kingfishers, and Allies)
- FamilyAlcedinidae (Kingfishers)
- GenusCeyx (Dwarf Kingfishers and Allies)
- SpeciesCeyx azureus (Azure Kingfisher)
About the Azure Kingfisher
The azure kingfisher (Ceyx azureus) is a small kingfisher in the river kingfisher subfamily, Alcedininae. The azure kingfisher measures 17–19 cm (6.7–7.5 in) in length, and the male weighs 29–32 g (1.0–1.1 oz) while the female is slightly heavier at 31–35 g (1.1–1.2 oz).
It is a very colourful bird, with deep blue to azure back, a large white to buff spot on the side of the neck and throat, rufous-buff with some blue-violet streaks on the breast and flanks. The feet are red with only two forward toes. The lores (the region between the eye and the bill) are white and inconspicuous except in front view, where they stand out as two large white eye-like spots which may have a role in warding off potential predators.
The subspecies (see box at right) differ only in minor details: compared with the nominate subspecies Ceyx azureus azureus, C. a. ruficollaris is smaller, brighter, and has more blue on the flanks; C. a. diemenensis is rather large, short-billed, and has a distinctly darker crown; C. a. lessoni is more contrasting, with little blue on the flanks; C.a. affinis has a red billtip, as has the smaller C.a. yamdenae; and C. a. ochrogaster is very pale... Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Raja Ampat
Papuan Dwarf-Kingfisher
Ceyx solitarius
Little Kingfisher
Ceyx pusillus
Rufous-bellied Kookaburra
Dacelo gaudichaud
Beach Kingfisher
Todiramphus saurophagus
Common Paradise-Kingfisher
Tanysiptera galatea
Sacred Kingfisher
Todiramphus sanctus
Yellow-billed Kingfisher
Syma torotoro
Hook-billed Kingfisher
Melidora macrorrhina
Blue-black Kingfisher
Todiramphus nigrocyaneus
Kofiau Paradise-Kingfisher
Tanysiptera ellioti
Collared Kingfisher
Todiramphus chloris
Red-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher
Tanysiptera nympha
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daintree National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Kakadu National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Royal National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Springbrook National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 5 | Litchfield National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 6 | Nitmiluk National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 7 | Booderee National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 8 | Raja Ampat | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | |
| 9 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 10 | Lamington National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 11 | Great Otway National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Azure Kingfisher in Raja Ampat?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Azure Kingfisher sighting in Raja Ampat, based on 33 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Azure Kingfisher in Raja Ampat?
March has the highest sighting rate for Azure Kingfisher in Raja Ampat in our monthly data.