‘Ter,re,a,mar’ or ‘Alcedo’: Azure kingfisher (Alcedo azurea), 1790s

Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW; Purchased 1887; PXD 226, f. 74

Watercolour

The Azure kingfisher has a similar shape to the Little Kingfisher, but is much bigger and is distinguished by its orange underparts and violet sheen.

Azure kingfishers are found across northern and eastern Australia including the Kimberley region and east of the Great Dividing Range.

The Azure kingfisher nests in a burrow dug out of a river bank.

Azure kingfishers are usually silent, but have a high thin whistle when flying that sounds like 'pee-ee, pee-ee'.

The Azure kingfisher plunges from overhanging perches into water to catch prey including fish, crustaceans, aquatic insects and other invertebrates, and, sometimes, frogs.

The Azure kingfisher is a small kingfisher with a long slender black bill and a short tail.