This photograph of this beautiful bird was taken whilst kayaking along the Gunbower Creek in Koondrook, northern Victoria (the creek is an anabranch of the Murray River and a beautiful spot to kayak!).

 

Olympus E-M1 Mark III with Panasonic Leica 200mm f/2.8 lens. Image has been cropped.

The azure kingfisher (Ceyx azureus) is a small kingfisher in the river kingfisher subfamily, Alcedininae.

They are found in northern and eastern Australia and Tasmania, as well as the lowlands of New Guinea and neighbouring islands, and out to North Maluku and Romang. However, it becomes less common in southern regions. They are generally sedentary, although some seasonal migration may occur.

Their habitat includes the banks of vegetated creeks, lakes, swamps, tidal estuaries, and mangroves.

They feed on small fish, crustaceans (such as shrimps, amphipods and freshwater yabbies), water beetles, spiders, locusts, and small frogs or tadpoles.

The breeding season of the azure kingfisher is from September to April in northern Australia and from August to February in southern Australia.

They are usually silent, but make a sharp, squeaky call when breeding.

The above was derived from Wikipedia.