Ceryle rudis
The Pied Kingfisher, *Ceryle rudis*, is a striking medium-sized kingfisher, typically measuring 25-29 cm (10-11 in) in length with a wingspan of 46-52 cm (18-20 in) and weighing 70-110 g (2.5-3.9 oz). It is immediately identifiable by its bold pied (black and white) plumage, shaggy crest, and long, dagger-like black bill. Males boast two prominent black bands across the breast, while females exhibit a single, often broken, upper breast band, making sexual dimorphism clear. Taxonomically, it b...
Primarily found near a variety of freshwater bodies like rivers, lakes, ponds, and estuaries, as well as coastal lagoons, at low to moderate elevations.
Primarily feeds on small fish (up to 10-15 cm long), but will also take crustaceans and aquatic insects, caught by plunge-diving from a hover or perch.
Pied Kingfishers are diurnal hunters, typically roosting communally or individually in waterside vegetation overnight. Their foraging strategy is iconic: they regularly hover motionless, sometimes for extended periods, 1-6 meters (3-20 ft) above the water before plunge-diving headfirst to catch p...
The Pied Kingfisher boasts an extensive range across sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and much of Asia, stretching from Turkey eastward through the Indian subcontinent to China and Southeast Asia. It is largely resident throughout its distribution, though some local or seasonal movements occu...
Least Concern
- The Pied Kingfisher is one of the few kingfisher species that regularly hovers motionless in mid-air for extended periods while hunting, a behavior typically associated with kestrels. - Unlike most kingfishers which are brilliantly colored, its striking black and white plumage gives it its 'pie...