One of the most attractive aspects of these charming little flying criters is that the have a marvelously colored plumage (and females are usually sharing very similar color patterns). So, wild life photographers are easily attracted to them.

In Indonesia, there is a large number of these species (Islands are very favorable environment to a strong selection leading to a large diversity; They provide long term isolation for species to quickly develop very local characters over long geological eras). During a recent trip, I could assemble a small collection of them. Here is a list of them. Far from exhaustive, but already quite long to my eyes.

Azure kingfisher, Martin-pêcheur à dos bleu (Ceyx azureus)

A nice little kingfisher, somewhat shy though.

Beach kingfisher, Martin-chasseur à tête blanche (Todiramphus saurophagus)

Relatively easy to find on beaches and sea fronts.

Blue-and-white kingfisher, Martin-chasseur des Moluques (Todiramphus diops)

Blue-black kingfisher, Martin-chasseur bleu-noir (Todiramphus nigrocyaneus)

Superb dark blue feathers.

Collared kingfisher, Martin-chasseur à collier blanc (Todiramphus chloris)

Common kingfisher, Martin-pêcheur d’Europe (Alcedo atthis)

The most recognizable one (for Europeans) since it is present thousands of kilometers from Indonesia.

Common paradise-kingfisher, Martin-chasseur à longs brins (Tanysiptera galatea)

Somehow, this kingfisher becomes relatively difficult to photograph if you want to ensure that the tail is appropriately rendered in the picture. And you will easily recognize that it is unting insects instead of fishing in rivers.

Great-billed kingfisher, Martin-chasseur à bec noir (Pelargopsis melanorhyncha)

Green-backed kingfisher, Martin-chasseur moine (Actenoides monachus)

A bird never easily impressed. You could find it anywhere in the forest and it will stay immobile with perfect patience.

Female:

Male:

Hook-billed kingfisher, Martin-chasseur d’Euphrosine (Melidora macrorrhina)

Forget this one, I could not bring any reasonable picture (observed from afar and photographed from a very unflattering low angle).

Little kingfisher, Martin-pêcheur poucet (Ceyx pusillus)

A small guy, always mobile, always impatient to find another place along the river.

Moluccan dwarf-kingfisher, Martin-pêcheur gracieux (Ceyx lepidus)

Ruddy kingfisher, Martin-chasseur violet (Halcyon coromanda)

Spectacular is the word! You would be excused for believing the colors are coming from a failed photography development or from a fake AI-enhanced picture. But it is merely light playing with feathers to give him the looks of a hippie singer.

Sacred kingfisher, Martin-chasseur sacré (Todiramphus sanctus)

Scaly-breasted kingfisher, Martin-chasseur royal (Actenoides princeps)

Female:

Sombre kingfisher, Martin-chasseur funèbre (Todiramphus funebris)

Sulawesi dwarf kingfisher, Martin-pêcheur multicolore (Ceyx fallax)

Sulawesi lilac kingfisher, Martin-chasseur oreillard (Cittura cyanotis)

Yellow-billed kingfisher, Martin-chasseur torotoro (Syma torotoro)

Marvellous little birds, with bright flashy colors.

Indonesia.

South Africa.

I collected some of these in a portfolio at Wild Focus: Buffles noirs dans la nuit.

A few pictures from an older trip in Brazil.

A few jaguar photos I added to YLoveBigCats.

Just as a reminder, Pantanal jaguars are the biggest in the world because they are so well-fed from the caiman bonanza that they can kill everywhere. And they are the most accessible (for photographers and tourists alike) for the same reasons.

They always hunt in a group, long-distance running, physically exhausting the targeted prey. The antelope they hunt has very, very little chance of getting a free pass. Their success rate is just plain spectacular.

Zambia, July 2017.

Quetzal on Wild Focus

Resplendent Quetzal, Pharomachrus mocinno – Quetzal resplendissant.

Wire-crested thorntail, Coquette de Popelaire (Discosura popelairii)
Peru, October 2024.

So, here is a condensed list:

I’ll admit easily that catching some hummingbirds in Peru was more difficult than in Ecuador. Nevertheless, I was able to catch a few ones. I tried focusing on multiple birds in the same shot, this time. You’ll see if they are good enough.

Rufous-crested coquette, Coquette de Delattre (Lophornis delattrei)
Peru, October 2024.

Wild Focus

This is the web site of my portfolios. There, you will see the subjects I really fell in love with and some more personal projects (often still a work in progress, like my half-portraits).

Ecuador, February 2024.

Brazil, August 2023.

Spectacled bear, Oso andino, Ours à lunettes (Tremarctos ornatus)
Ecuador, March/April 2024.

Brazil, August 2023.

Saffron finch, Sicale bouton d’or (Sicalis flaveola)
Brazil, August 2023.

While working on some pictures taken last year in Brazil, I stopped on this nice little saffron finch I caught in a tree along a nice little river. It reminded me that I had not mentioned my portfolio, “Blanc, c’est blanc” (White is all), for a long time.

So, if you like those two images, you may be interested in checking other photos from the same inspiration, but not with the same subject or location: Go and visit “Blanc, c’est blanc“.

I love these small (or tiny, rather) birds. Colors, shiny feathers, high speed make them adorable and excellent subjects for photography. Truly fascinating…