Blue-winged Kookaburra — David Taylor - Master Jeweller

Bushland Beach, Townsville January 2021.

This bird is a large kingfisher with a big head and bill. The head is off-white with brown streaks and the bill is dark above and pinkish white below. The big pale eyes of an adult bird stand out.

The shoulders are sky blue and it has a uniform blue rump.

The back is mid brown. Males have a dark blue tail while females' tails are barred red-brown or blackish. Juveniles have paler streaks on the head with darker mottling. Given that, I think this is a Juvenile female above.

The throat is plain white and the underparts are white with faint scalloped orange-brown bars. The legs and feet are grey.

These birds are quite shy so often fly away when disturbed and at other time like below, are hidden away in the foliage.