Red-backed Kingfisher

1. Rusty-red rump and lower back, visible in flight or from behind

2. Streaked greyish crown (not solid blue-green)

3. Blue upperwings and tail, white underparts, black mask

Red-backed Kingfishers feed mainly on insects (grasshoppers, beetles, mantids), spiders, centipedes, small reptiles, frogs, and occasionally small mammals. They hunt by perching prominently and swooping down to capture prey on the ground, which they kill by beating it against a perch or the ground. Breeding occurs from August to February, often with two broods per season, especially in wet years. Nests are typically excavated as tunnels in vertical earthen banks, but can also be found in termite mounds or hollow branches. Both parents share incubation (20–23 days), and young fledge after 26–30 days. Creekside nests are vulnerable to predators such as goannas and foxes.

Red-backed Kingfishers are found across most of Australia, except the extreme southwest, southeast, and Tasmania. They inhabit arid and semi-arid regions, including open woodlands, mulga, mallee, and near-desert areas-often far from water. In southern Australia, they are migratory, arriving from the north in August for the breeding season and leaving as conditions dry out. Look for them perched on dead trees, fence posts, or powerlines, especially near earthen banks suitable for nesting.