Sacred Kingfisher

The Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus) is a tree kingfisher found in the mangroves, forests, and river valleys of Australia, Fiji, Indonesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand (where the species is also called by its Māori name Kotare), Norfolk Island, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and the Wallis and Futuna Islands.

It has also occurred as a vagrant in Christmas Island (in the Indian Ocean), Malaysia, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Nauru.

In Australia, it occurs in eucalypt forests, melaleuca forests, woodland and paperbark forests. In New Zealand, T.sanctus vagans shows altitudinal migration, with post-breeding movement from higher altitudes to the coast and also from forest to coast and open lands.

It is 19-23 cm long, and feeds on insects, small crustaceans, and fish.