Shovel-billed Kookaburra
Photo: markaharper1 · CC BY-SA 2.0

Kingfishers

Shovel-billed Kookaburra

Dacelo rex

LCLeast Concern Endemic to New Guinea (Indonesia and Papua New Guinea)
Family
Kingfishers (Alcedinidae)
Order
Coraciiformes

Overview

The shovel-billed kookaburra (Dacelo rex), also known as the shovel-billed kingfisher, is a large, approximately 33 cm (13 in) long, dark brown tree kingfisher with a heavy, short, and broad bill that is unique among the kingfishers. It has a dark head with a rufous (reddish/brown or rust coloured) stripe behind the eyes, a white throat, a rufous neck collar and underparts, a bright blue rump, brown iris, brownish-black bill with paler mandible (entire bill often appears brownish due to earth), and pale feet. Both sexes are similar in appearance, but are easily recognized from the colour of the tail. The male has a dark bluish tail while female's is rufous.

Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Range and habitat

New Guinea (primarily in hills and adjacent lowlands).

Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.

Sources and further reading

Last updated September 29, 2026.