General Description
Large, stocky kingfisher. Body and head white with streaky brown markings on crown and around eye. Wings black with bright blue patches and bright blue tail. Bill brown and horn coloured. Weight up to 370 grams, head-body length up to 41 cm.
Biology
A resident species moving very little from their home area except for some local and seasonal movements. Cooperative breeders - sons will often remain in the territory of their parents, helping to defend the territory, support nesting attempts and feed their siblings.
Distribution
Australia, New Guinea. Northern coastal Australia, Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland
Habitat
Savana woodland and open woodland and forests. Woodlands along watercourses, mangroves and monsoon forest. Pastures and cultivated lands with stands of trees, large suburban parks and gardens.
More Information
-
Animal Type
-
Fast Fact
Observed with Black and Whistling Kites foraging at the fronts of fires on fleeing animals. Pairs form long-term bonds, remaining in the same territories for years.
-
Brief Id
Stout kingfisher with strong bill, white body, black back and bright blue wing and tail.
-
Colours
White, Brown, Black, Blue
-
Maximum Size
41 cm
-
Habitats
-
Diet
Carnivore
-
Diet Categories
Invertebrates, Crustaceans, Frogs, small vertebrates, snails
-
Endemicity
-
Conservation Statuses
CITES: Not listed, EPBC Act 1999: Not listed, FFG Threatened List: Not listed, IUCN Red List: Least Concern
-
Taxon Name
-
Common Name
Blue-winged Kookaburra
-
Kingdom
-
Phylum
-
Subphylum
-
Class
-
Order
-
Family
-
Genus
-
Species Name
leachii
