Photo: JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) / CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Forest Kingfisher
Todiramphus macleayii
Forest Kingfisher (Todiramphus macleayii) — Kingfishers & Rollers of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 11 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Forest Kingfisher (Todiramphus macleayii) is a member of the Alcedinidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 37.3 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Coraciiformes
- Family Alcedinidae Kingfishers
- Genus Todiramphus
- Species macleayii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 37.3 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Alcedinidae
- Order
- Coraciiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Forest Kingfisher is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of rivers and riverside habitats, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Forest Kingfisher is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Forest Kingfisher (Todiramphus macleayii) is a member of the Alcedinidae family, within the order Coraciiformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU se New Guinea and nc, e Australia.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 37.3 g, with a wing length of about 8.8 cm and a tail of around 5.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Forest Kingfisher?
The Forest Kingfisher is a small bird that weighs around 37.3 g.
Where does the Forest Kingfisher live?
The Forest Kingfisher is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU se New Guinea and nc, e Australia, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Forest Kingfisher belong to?
The Forest Kingfisher (Todiramphus macleayii) belongs to the Alcedinidae family, in the order Coraciiformes.
What does the Forest Kingfisher eat?
The Forest Kingfisher is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Forest Kingfisher migrate?
The Forest Kingfisher is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Forest Kingfisher endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Forest Kingfisher make?
1 real field recording of the Forest Kingfisher can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Forest Kingfisher's range?
The Forest Kingfisher has a mapped global range of about 1 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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