Little Kingfisher

1. Exceptionally small size-Australia’s tiniest kingfisher

2. Deep blue upperparts and white underparts with blue extending onto the sides of the breast

3. Large white patches on the neck and a short, black bill

Little Kingfishers feed mainly on tiny fish, crustaceans (including shrimps), and aquatic insects. They hunt by sitting motionless on a low perch, then diving swiftly and completely submerging to catch prey. After a successful dive, they return directly to their perch. Breeding occurs from October to March in Queensland and February in the Northern Territory. Nests are excavated as small burrows in riverbanks, rotting mangrove or paperbark stumps, or sometimes in termite mounds. Both parents share incubation and feeding duties, and continue to feed the young for over a week after fledging.

Look for Little Kingfishers in northern Australia, especially in coastal mangroves, Melaleuca and Nipa swamps, and along shaded creeks and rivers. They favour areas with dense, overhanging vegetation and rarely stray far from water. Most observations are from Queensland and the Northern Territory, at low elevations up to about 750 meters. These shy birds perch quietly on low branches, often less than two meters above the water, and are best seen at dawn or dusk with patient observation.