King of Fishers

Pastel on Canson paper (Sold)

50 cm W x 65 cm H
Australia has 10 native species of kingfishers, including the kookaburra, which is the largest. Kingfishers nest in tree hollows, in burrows in riverbanks and in termite nests. They feed on small animals, including fish, frogs, yabbies, snakes, insects and nestlings of other birds. Some kingfishers were once in danger of being hunted to extinction for their feathers. Despite their elaborate garb, these stocky birds are tough, and hunt by darting upon prey in a flash of colour from branches above the river or forest floor. The kingfisher’s heavy beak is the perfect tool for despatching victims quickly – they smack their hapless prey against tree branches before swallowing them whole. This small Azure Kingfisher (Alcedo azurea) is a tiny 17cm in length, with a wingspan of 25-29cm.