Azure Kingfisher (Ceyx azureus ) up close in the Queensland Rainforest.

I was sitting quietly next to our Rain forest creek, when this little guy landed very close. The Azure Kingfisher is a stunning resident in our Queensland forests.

It could be argued that this is Australia's most beautiful Kingfisher. The plumage is stunning with a blue-purple mantle and orange breast and belly.

The bill is disproportionately long.

They are a true Aquatic Kingfisher, that mainly dive for small fish as opposed to many Australian Kingfishers that hunt over dry land, such as the Red-backed and Sacred Kingfisher.

Most observations of this species are very brief as the birds dart past at great speed. Their hunting method is to sit in the shadows on favored perches where they plummet into the water to catch tiny fish with their dagger like bill.

The Male is very similar to the female but slightly brighter in plumage.

This species excavates it's own hole, usually in the river bank. There is a 'turn around' at the end of the burrow where, the white eggs are laid.

Once, the eggs are incubated, the parents have to tirelessly feed the young and it has been recorded that up to 50 fish are supplied per day.

Thankfully, this species remains a relatively common site on Queensland's rivers, dams and small creeks.

I filmed these guys in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.