WILDLIFE Australia’s fabulous kingfishers

These shy, yet glamorous, birds can be found around our rivers, coasts and forests, and indicate a healthy ecosystem.

Spider venom contains a cocktail of chemicals, some of which can be harmful to humans – but humans are not really the intended victims. Spider venom is designed for small prey and delivered in small quantities.

Australia has 10 native kingfisher species.

Spider venom contains a cocktail of chemicals, some of which can be harmful to humans – but humans are not really the intended victims. Spider venom is designed for small prey and delivered in small quantities.

They nest in tree hollows, in burrows in riverbanks and in termite nests.

Spider venom contains a cocktail of chemicals, some of which can be harmful to humans – but humans are not really the intended victims. Spider venom is designed for small prey and delivered in small quantities.

They feed on small animals, including fish, frogs, yabbies, snakes, insects and nestlings of other birds.

Spider venom contains a cocktail of chemicals, some of which can be harmful to humans – but humans are not really the intended victims. Spider venom is designed for small prey and delivered in small quantities.

Cloaked in stunning green, blue, turquoise and orange plumage, some kingfishers were once in danger of being hunted to extinction for their feathers.

Spider venom contains a cocktail of chemicals, some of which can be harmful to humans – but humans are not really the intended victims. Spider venom is designed for small prey and delivered in small quantities.

Despite their elaborate garb, these stocky birds are tough, and hunt by darting upon prey in a flash of colour from branches above the river or forest floor.

Spider venom contains a cocktail of chemicals, some of which can be harmful to humans – but humans are not really the intended victims. Spider venom is designed for small prey and delivered in small quantities.

The kingfisher’s heavy beak is the perfect tool for despatching victims quickly – they smack their hapless prey against tree branches before swallowing them whole.

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