Sacred Kingfisher
Calls & Sounds

The Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus) is a medium-sized kingfisher found throughout much of Australasia and Indonesia. It can be found in a variety of habitats including eucalypt woodland, melaleuca swamps, mangroves, coastal scrub and beaches.

The loud ‘kik-kik-kik-kik’ calls of the Sacred Kingfisher are a common sound in spring and summer throughout much of its range. These calls are most often given by male birds as a territorial advertisement and in courtship. Other calls made by Sacred Kingfishers including grinding, trilling ‘tucree-tucree-tucree’ sounds as well as harsh scolding ‘tchaa’ notes when an intruder is present. Sacred Kingfishers can occasionally be heard calling at night.