Red-backed Kingfisher (Todiramphus pyrrhopygius)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Red-backed Kingfisher

Todiramphus pyrrhopygius (Gould, 1841)

52 gWeight

The red-backed kingfisher (Todiramphus pyrrhopygius) is a species of kingfisher in the subfamily Halcyoninae, also known as tree kingfishers.

Busiest months: September–October · Most records: Australia

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Red-backed Kingfisher has been recorded at 50 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 1 country or region.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Bowra Wildlife SanctuaryAustralia1,214 records
  2. Roebuck Plains StationAustralia238 records
  3. Cumberland DamAustralia203 records
More places
  1. Mount Korong Nature Conservation ReserveAustralia119 records
  2. Alice Springs Sewage PondsAustralia106 records
  3. Katherine Wastewater Treatment PlantAustralia104 records
  4. Mt Ainslie Nature Reserve – Campbell ParkAustralia103 records
  5. Taylors LagoonAustralia64 records
  6. Goschen Bushland ReserveAustralia57 records
  7. Fogg Dam Conservation ReserveAustralia56 records

Countries and regions with the most records

Australia

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The red-backed kingfisher (Todiramphus pyrrhopygius) is a species of kingfisher in the subfamily Halcyoninae, also known as tree kingfishers. It is a predominantly blue-green and white bird with a chestnut rump. It is found across the continent of Australia, mainly inhabiting the drier regions.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Red-backed Kingfisher?

The Red-backed Kingfisher weighs around 52 g.

Where does the Red-backed Kingfisher live?

Its breeding range: Australasia: Australia (except southern, Tasmania). It is most often recorded in Australia.

When is the best time to see the Red-backed Kingfisher?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in September and October (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Red-backed Kingfisher endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Red-backed Kingfisher as Least Concern.

What does the Red-backed Kingfisher eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Red-backed Kingfisher in?

It belongs to the family Kingfishers (Alcedinidae), order Coraciiformes.

At a glance

Weight
52 g
Habitat
Woodland
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Perches in trees
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
100 mm
Tail
68 mm
Bill
42 mm
Tarsus
15 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Australasia: Australia (except southern, Tasmania)

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Family
Kingfishers Alcedinidae
Genus
Todiramphus

Other birds in the genus Todiramphus

Blue-black KingfisherBlue-black KingfisherTodiramphus nigrocyaneusRufous-lored KingfisherRufous-lored KingfisherTodiramphus winchelliBlue-and-white KingfisherBlue-and-white KingfisherTodiramphus diopsLazuli KingfisherLazuli KingfisherTodiramphus lazuliForest KingfisherForest KingfisherTodiramphus macleayiiWhite-mantled KingfisherWhite-mantled KingfisherTodiramphus albonotatusUltramarine KingfisherUltramarine KingfisherTodiramphus leucopygiusVanuatu KingfisherVanuatu KingfisherTodiramphus farquhariSombre KingfisherSombre KingfisherTodiramphus funebrisCollared KingfisherCollared KingfisherTodiramphus chlorisTorresian KingfisherTorresian KingfisherTodiramphus sordidusIslet KingfisherIslet KingfisherTodiramphus colonus
Red-backed Kingfisher

Download illustration

Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Joel Poyitt. ↗

WebP · 1070 px

Heard it but can't see it? Mingji identifies birds by sound and photo, on your phone.

In other languages