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I think this is one of the world's most dramatic birds, although it lives in dense rainforests and seldom show its brilliant colors in sunlight. Usually one's initial impression is the white tail and back Australian kingfishers, most of which, like this species, the red-backed kingfisher of arid regions, the forest kingfisher, and the laughing and blue-winged kookaburras (the largest kingfishers in the world) are woodland birds that feed mainly on terrestrial animals. Only two, the little kingfisher and the azure kingfisher are true 'fishing' kingfishers. I photographed these in the wet tropics of far north Queensland, some at the well-named Kingfisher Park near Julatten and others at Cape Tribulation (more photos on this page). One has his (? the sexes are identical) white back plumes fluffed, probably because he was calling to another bird nearby. |
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