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Azure kingfisher
species of bird / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The azure kingfisher (Alcedo azurea) is a small kingfisher (17–19 centimetres, 6.7–7.5 inches), in the river kingfisher family, Alcedinidae. It lives in parts of Australia and Tasmania, as well as New Guinea and some nearby islands. Even out to North Maluku and Romang.
Azure kingfisher | |
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A. a. ruficollaris | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Coraciiformes |
Family: | Alcedinidae |
Subfamily: | Alcedininae |
Genus: | Ceyx |
Species: | C. azureus |
Binomial name | |
Ceyx azureus Latham, 1801 | |
Subspecies | |
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Synonyms | |
Alcedo azurea |
It is named for the azure color on its back. Its feet are red with only two front toes. White spots between the eyes and beak may help it scare predators. The azure kingfisher lives at the side of bodies of water such as creeks, lakes, swamps, tidal estuaries and mangroves. It can dive quickly from a perch above water. It feeds on freshwater crayfish and small fish. It builds its nest in a chamber up to 1 meter long in a creek bank. 5–7 white, round eggs. Its call is a high-pitched, 'pseet-pseet'.