In the past I’ve thought Blue-winged Kookaburras look strange (compared with Laughing Kookaburras) because of their white irises, but I absolutely love this stunning-looking bird.
1/800, f/6.3, ISO 2500
Canon R5, Canon RF 600 f/4 L IS USM
I was leaving a large fenced wetland at a sanctuary when I realised I was being watched and looked up to see this Blue-winged Kookaburra looking down at me. This large kingfisher looks so gorgeous and fluffy, almost like a soft toy.
The blue on its wings is extraordinarily pretty, graduating from pastel to almost navy. The feathers on its head looked pretty comical as a light breeze lifted some feathers and not others.
It was tricky to get a shot of the entire bird as it was close to the track and I was hand-holding a long lens at an uncomfortable angle. I’m glad I persevered.
There are ten Australian kingfisher species – Blue-winged Kookaburras and Laughing Kookaburras are the largest kingfishers here.
Happy birding, Kim
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