Bird of the month
The gorgeous sacred kingfisher, photographed by Melissa Marie at Harrys Hut, Cooloola Recreation Area
We are truly blessed to have the sacred kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus) as a resident in our area.
Brightening the branches where it perches, its turquoise back shines like a jewel, and its white belly, buff underparts, and black eye-mask complete the outfit.
Despite its name, the sacred kingfisher doesn’t actually have much of a taste for the pescatarian lifestyle, preferring instead to feast on bugs and spiders, small crustaceans, frogs, small rodents, and reptiles.
As fast as lightning, once they spot their prey they will swoop down from their perch, collect their meal, and return to their perch to dine.
When it comes time to raise their young, the mating pair will build a nest either by burrowing into a termite mound or a river bank, or will use a hollow in a large branch.
The female lays a clutch of 3 to 6 eggs and both parents incubate the eggs and care for and feed the young.
Living predominantly in our coastal regions of mainland Australia, it is said this kingfisher got the name “sacred” from the Polynesians, whose culture believes this gorgeous bird is holy and has control over the waves, making Rainbow a perfect place for them to call home.
Melissa Marie
