The azure kingfisher lives at the side of bodies of water such as creeks, lakes, swamps, tidal estuaries and mangroves. It can dive quickly from a perch above water. It feeds on freshwater crayfish and small fish. It builds its nest in a chamber up to 1 meter long in a creek bank. 5–7 white, round eggs. Its call is a high-pitched, 'pseet-pseet'.