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Red-backed Kingfisher (Todiramphus pyrrhopygia) Alternate name(s): "Golden Kingfisher" Aboriginal name(s): "luurn" [kukatja], "luurnpa" ("lurnpa") Size: 20-24 cm Body mass: 43-70 g

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Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Red-backed Kingfishers are relatively small kingfishers. Thave their name from their rufous-coloured rump. They have a black eye stripe, white frontal and neck plumage and a cap that is streaked olive-green with white. Their wings are blueish, the mantle green and the tail blue. The irises are black, the bill is dark-grey with a lighter base and the legs and feet are grey. Juvenile Red-backed Kingfishers have a mottled, light-rufous front and rufous nape of the neck. Twitcher's tip NB: We find it very hard to distinguish the two sexes in the field. The feeding sessions are the easiest way to tell who is male or female. While the female is incubating, obviously only the male is outside the nest.

Taxonomy, classification See Red-backed Kingfisher at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Red-backed Kingfisher is available HERE . NB: Reports on ebird of birds submitted by birdwatchers from the Australian Outback tend to be clustered along roads and public areas such as camp grounds; in such cases their distribution is not a good representation of the overall distribution of the species. Red-backed Kingfishers are endemic to Australia. They breed mostly in the south-eastern part of the continent comprising the southern inland half of QLD, the south-eastern corner of the NT, the eastern half of SA and almost all of NSW (except the North coast). Other breeding areas are the north-western corner of the NT, inland between the Fitzroy and Gascoyne Rivers in WA and inland from the coastal strip between Perth and Geraldton, WA, to about Kalgoorlie, WA. Outside their breeding season they disperse over most of the continent, except Tasmania, VIC South of the Great Dividing Range, south-eastern WA, the south-western tip of WA and a small coastal area South of the Gascoyne River in WA. Our experience is that Red-backed Kingfishers are most likely found inland, rather than the coastal regions or the Great Dividing Range. They have a preference for dry, open woodland, but have also been seen by us in outback towns.

Sightings Click here for sighting information A Red-backed Kingfisher was first spotted by us in the township of Walgett, western NSW, in October 2010. Since then the species is found regularly by various contributors and ourselves in many different locations in north-western NSW and south-western QLD. C. Hayne reports seeing a Red-backed Kingfisher in a dead tree on farmland, on a bank of the Gwydir River, 10 km North-West of Moree, in early 2010. B. Hensen reports spotting Red-backed Kingfishers near Darwin River Dam, NT, in August 2012 and on the Marrakai track, NT, in August 2013. A pair of Red-backed Kingfishers was found by us breeding at Bullawa Creek, 15 km East of Narrabri, NSW, in the timeframe October to December 2014. They nested again at the same location in the timeframe September to November 2015. A single Red-backed Kingfisher, probably a male, was back at the same location in September 2016. Checks made outside the breeding season revealed that the birds were not present at this particular location when not breeding. One bird returned on 1 September for the 2017 breeding season. While other tunnel-nesting species did return, by the third week of 2018, by which time new growth was totally obscuring the vertical creek bank, no Red-backed Kingfishers had returned to the site. J. Greaves reports spotting a Red-backed Kingfisher at the Granites Gold Mine, inland NT, in June 2015. M. Mackay reports spotting Red-backed Kingfishers regularly in the township of Coober Pedy, SA, with enhanced breeding activity with good rainfall since 2011. 2016 was a particularly active breeding season in the area. M. Mearns reports finding a Red-backed Kingfisher near Croydon, QLD, in July 2016, and another in Diamantina NP, QLD, in September 2019. During a period of severe inland drought in September 2017, at a time when they were also reported in good numbers from the Hunter River in NSW and even coastal wetlands, M. Eaton found a Red-backed Kingfisher at Moggill, south-eastern QLD. P. Brown reports spotting a Red-backed Kingfisher on the southern outskirts of Darwin, NT, in May 2018. M. Eaton found a Red-backed Kingfisher in Katherine, NT, in July 2020. Others were found at Longreach, QLD, in June 2021, and in Windorah, QLD, in August 2022. Others were spotted at Lake Moondarra, near Mount Isa, QLD, in June 2025. Together with V. Collins, we found a Red-backed Kingfisher at Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, in October 2021. M. Eaton found a Red-backed Kingfisher along the Strzelecki Track, ca. 140 km N of Lyndhurst, SA, in June 2022. J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours reports finding a Red-backed Kingfisher at the Town Common, Townsville, QLD, in July 2020.

Photos

ADULT

PAIR

In the field, male and female Red-backed Kingfisher are very hard to tell apart when seen separately. Even when seen together, the distinction is usually most easily made by behaviour. At the start of the breeding season, the male will feed its (prospective) partner. During the breeding season the female will be mostly in the nest hollow while the male is out hunting and providing her with food.

Lateral/ventral view of a pair of Red-backed Kingfishers getting excited
[Near Narrabri, NSW, November 2014]

Lateral/ventral view of a pair of Red-backed Kingfishers
[Near Narrabri, NSW, October 2014]

Lateral/ventral view of a pair of Red-backed Kingfishers
[Near Narrabri, NSW, October 2014]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a pair of Red-backed Kingfishers
[Near Narrabri, NSW, October 2014]

MALE

Frontal view of a (probably male) Red-backed Kingfisher looking sideways
[Near Narrabri, NSW, October 2014]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a (probably male) Red-backed Kingfisher looking sideways
[Near Narrabri, NSW, October 2014]

Near-lateral view of a (probably male) Red-backed Kingfisher with a mouse it has caught (for its near-fledging age chicks!)
[Near Narrabri, NSW, December 2014]

Lateral view of a (probably male) Red-backed Kingfisher (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Currawinya NP, near Hungerford, QLD, in October 2012]

FEMALE

Full-frontal view of a (probably female) Red-backed Kingfisher (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[The Granites Gold Mine, inland NT, June 2015]

Near-frontal view of a (probably female) Red-backed Kingfisher (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[The Granites Gold Mine, inland NT, June 2015]

Lateral view of a (probably female) Red-backed Kingfisher (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Near Darwin, NT, May 2018]

Close-up lateral view of a (probably female) Red-backed Kingfisher (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[The Granites Gold Mine, inland NT, June 2015]

Lateral view of a (probably female) Red-backed Kingfisher (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Marrakai track, NT, August 2013]

Near-dorsal view of a (probably female) Red-backed Kingfisher (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Near Darwin, NT, May 2018]

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Red-backed Kingfisher looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Longreach, QLD, June 2021]

Frontal view of a Red-backed Kingfisher looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Moondarra, near Mount Isa, QLD, June 2025]

Near-frontal view of a Red-backed Kingfisher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Moondarra, near Mount Isa, QLD, June 2025]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a Red-backed Kingfisher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Katherine, NT, July 2020]

Near-lateral view of a Red-backed Kingfisher looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Moondarra, near Mount Isa, QLD, June 2025]

Near-lateral view of a Red-backed Kingfisher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Moondarra, near Mount Isa, QLD, June 2025]

Near-lateral view of a Red-backed Kingfisher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Longreach, QLD, June 2021]

Lateral view of a Red-backed Kingfisher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Katherine, NT, July 2020]

Close-up lateral view of a Red-backed Kingfisher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill, QLD, September 2017]

Close-up lateral view of a Red-backed Kingfisher, now with its tail cocked (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill, QLD, September 2017]

Close-up lateral view of a Red-backed Kingfisher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Windorah, QLD, August 2022]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a Red-backed Kingfisher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Windorah, QLD, August 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a Red-backed Kingfisher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Strzelecki Track, 140 km N of Lyndhurst, SA, June 2022]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a Red-backed Kingfisher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Moondarra, near Mount Isa, QLD, June 2025]

Dorsal view of a Red-backed Kingfisher
[Near Narrabri, NSW, October 2014]

Red-backed Kingfisher landing on a power line, thereby showing its underwing plumage
[Near Narrabri, NSW, October 2014]

Dorsal view of a Red-backed Kingfisher just after take-off from a perch
[Near Narrabri, NSW, November 2014]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Full-frontal view of a fledgling Red-backed Kingfisher; note the good forward vision of this predatory species - this is the flegdling whose begging calls were recorded on 21 December 2014
[Near Narrabri, NSW, December 2014]

Near-frontal view of a fledgling Red-backed Kingfisher; just a few hours out of its nest tunnel (see below), this bird had good flying skills, but was a bit wobbly on its feet when perched on a twig - this is the flegdling whose begging calls were recorded on 21 December 2014
[Near Narrabri, NSW, December 2014]

Lateral view of a fledgling Red-backed Kingfisher - this is the flegdling whose begging calls were recorded on 21 December 2014
[Near Narrabri, NSW, December 2014]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a fledgling Red-backed Kingfisher - this is the flegdling whose begging calls were recorded on 21 December 2014
[Near Narrabri, NSW, December 2014]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Oct - Dec

Eggs: 3 - 5

Incubation period: 17 - 19 days

Fledging age: ca. 21 days

The period listed in the table above is the core breeding period. It can extend from about September to February.

Nest building: ?

Incubation: Female & male

Dependent care: Female & male

In late October, this pair of Red-backed Kingfishers was observed mating and defending their territory along a stretch of creek bed with a vertical, undercut bank
[Near Narrabri, NSW, October 2014]

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Tunnel

Material: Creek bank, shaft or arboreal termite nest

Height above ground: ?

Dorsal view of a Red-backed Kingfisher feeding its chicks at the entrance of the nest tunnel
[Near Narrabri, NSW, December 2014]

Here at least 3 near-fledging age Red-backed Kingfisher chicks can be seen waiting in the nest tunnel
[Near Narrabri, NSW, November 2015]

Entrance of a Red-backed Kingfisher nest tunnel
[Near Narrabri, NSW, December 2014]

Over time the entrance of the Red-backed Kingfisher nest tunnel became a lot messier
[Near Narrabri, NSW, December 2014]

And things can look worse yet; note that other species keep the entrance to their nest tunnels clean
[Near Narrabri, NSW, November 2015]

Overview of the location of the Red-backed Kingfisher nest tunnel in a steep creek bank; the tunnel entrance is the one near the top centre, at the top end of a dark "scar" in the bank; note how clean and inconspicuous the entrance is at this early stage
[Near Narrabri, NSW, November 2014]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 26 x 22 mm

Colour: Glossy white

Shape: Oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Dispersive

Elementary unit: Solitary/pair

We have observed the pair described above, seen near Narrabri, defend its territory against Sacred Kingfishers on both sides of their ca. 200 m stretch along an at the time dry creek bed.

Stand-off between a Red-backed Kingfisher and a pair of Rufous Songlarks
[Near Narrabri, NSW, November 2014]

As far as we can tell, usually one bird in a pair (presumably the male) calls a lot, while the other (the female?) is quiet or gives only short, soft calls. This includes the welcoming procedure, where always the same bird (the male?) calls the welcome, irrespective of which of the two is arriving.

A Red-backed Kingfisher was observed by us twice, hovering above a paddock like a raptor for between 5 and 10 seconds where there was no suitable perch available.

Red-backed Kingfisher hovering in the exact-same spot for 10 seconds; composite of four photos taken a few seconds apart
[Near Narrabri, NSW, December 2014]

Birds, in particular raptors, that hover above their prey will always do so facing into the wind to get optimal air lift.

Additional information

In bird species where the female is the sole or dominant incubator, the male must prove that he is willing and capable to feed her while she is incubating the eggs. He does this by bringing her offerings of food before she will allow him to mate with her. We have taken short photo sequences of such feeding sessions, which form a bonding ritual.

NB: We find it very hard to distinguish the two sexes in the field. The feeding sessions are the easiest way to tell who is male or female.

Food, Diet

Red-backed Kingfishers are known to hunt primarily on land and in trees for small reptiles and large insects (e.g. small lizards, dragonflies, bush cockroaches). They have also been seen by us to take mice.

Lateral/ventral view of a Red-backed Kingfisher with a big locust it has caught for its near-fledging age chicks
[Near Narrabri, NSW, December 2014]

Near-frontal view of a (probably male) Red-backed Kingfisher with a mouse it has caught (for its near-fledging age chicks!)
[Near Narrabri, NSW, December 2014]

Lateral view of a Red-backed Kingfisher with a mouse it has caught (for its near-fledging age chicks!)
[Near Narrabri, NSW, December 2014]

Frontal view of a Red-backed Kingfisher that is feeding its chicks with what looks like the remnants of a preying mantis
[Near Narrabri, NSW, December 2014]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

rbkingf_20170901.m4a	(NW NSW)	Contact call (male)	© MD
rbkingf_20141016_7.m4a	(NW NSW)	Contact calls (male)	© MD
rbkingf_20211016.m4a	(NW NSW)	Contact calls	© MD
rbkingf_20141005_4.mp3	(NW NSW)	Pair Q&A	© MD
rbkingf_20141221_5.mp3	(NW NSW)	Calling fledgling	© MD
rbkingf_20141016.mp3	(NW NSW)	Welcoming partner?	© MD
rbkingf_20141016_2.mp3	(NW NSW)	Defending territory (vs. Sacred Kingfisher)	© MD
rbkingf_20141016_4.m4a	(NW NSW)	Annoyed (with Aust. Magpie)	© MD
rbkingf_20141221_6.mp3	(NW NSW)	Fledgling begging	© MD
rbkingf_20141221.mp3	(NW NSW)	Q&A fledgling with parents	© MD
rbkingf_20141210_11.mp3	(NW NSW)	Nestling begging	© MD
rbkingf_20141216_2.mp3	(NW NSW)	Nestlings begging & being fed	© MD
rbkingf_20141031_2.mp3	(NW NSW)	Various (Q&A)	© MD

Click here for more recordings

The recordings of "begging calls" above are of Red-backed Kingfisher chicks responding to calls or the arrival of one of their parents. Their begging calls can also intensify spontaneously, without a noticeable external trigger. But other events can also trigger the youngsters into activity, e.g. when one walks past the tunnel opening, or when other bird species call near the nest. Some examples are presented below.

rbkingf_20151118_6.mp3	(NW NSW)	Reacting to parent's call	© MD
rbkingf_20151118.mp3	(NW NSW)	Human moving near nest	© MD

We have also recorded the wing beat of a Red-backed Kingfisher.

rbkingf_20141210_12.mp3

(NW NSW)

Adult landing on perch near nest

© MD

More Red-backed Kingfisher sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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