Species guide
Sacred Kingfisher: how to recognise it
A bird of Asia and Oceania. Learn the marks that make it easy to identify, then practise with real photographs in Lore.
Practise with real photosAll species guides
Photo © Saryu Mae 前 朝琉 · CC BY · iNaturalist · all photo credits
- Scientific name
- Todiramphus sanctus
- Family
- Kingfishers
- Size
- About 19–23 cm
- Habitat
- Woodland, mangroves and coastal areas
- Found in
- Asia and Oceania
The key marks
Turquoise-green above with a cream or buff underside and collar, and a dark eye stripe.
Voice
A loud, repeated “kek-kek-kek”.
Good to know
It is a sit-and-wait hunter that eats insects, lizards and crabs more than fish.
Where and when
You can expect to find it in woodland, mangroves and coastal areas. It is especially common in New Zealand. Distribution changes with the seasons and from year to year, so check a recent local observation source before you go looking.