Ceyx azureus
Silhouette: Rachael Joakim · PhyloPic
In 3 days <5%
The azure kingfisher (Ceyx azureus) is a small kingfisher in the river kingfisher subfamily, Alcedininae. The azure kingfisher measures 17–19 cm (6.7–7.5 in) in length, and the male weighs 29–32 g (1.0–1.1 oz) while the female is slightly heavier at 31–35 g (1.1–1.2 oz).
It is a very colourful bird, with deep blue to azure back, a large white to buff spot on the side of the neck and throat, rufous-buff with some blue-violet streaks on the breast and flanks. The feet are red with only two forward toes. The lores (the region between the eye and the bill) are white and inconspicuous except in front view, where they stand out as two large white eye-like spots which may have a role in warding off potential predators. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daintree National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Kakadu National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Royal National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Springbrook National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 5 | Nitmiluk National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 6 | Booderee National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 7 | Litchfield National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 8 | Lamington National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 9 | Noosa National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 10 | Raja Ampat | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | |
| 11 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 12 | Great Otway National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report an Azure Kingfisher sighting in Melbourne on a given day, based on 72 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 178th most-seen of the 236 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to under 5%, if each day is a fresh chance.
Any time of year
In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report an Azure Kingfisher in Melbourne on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
Between 2 and 5 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Azure Kingfisher sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 3 cities where we can rate Azure Kingfisher sightings, Melbourne ranks 3rd at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Brisbane (Australia, under 5%) and Sydney (Australia, under 5%).
Same family: Alcedinidae
The closest relatives of the Azure Kingfisher that you can see in Melbourne (family Alcedinidae, Kingfishers) are Laughing Kookaburra (about 20%) and Sacred Kingfisher (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Azure Kingfisher is recorded against all the birds logged in Melbourne (72 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
