12,840 observationsLeast Concern
Pied Kingfisher
Ceryle rudis
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia ›Phylum: Chordata ›Class: Aves ›Order: Coraciiformes ›Family: Alcedinidae ›Genus: Ceryle
About
The pied kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) is a water kingfisher and is found widely distributed across Africa and Asia. Originally described by Linnaeus in 1758, it has five recognised subspecies. Its black and white plumage, crest and the habit of hovering over clear lakes and rivers before diving for fish make it distinctive. Males have a double band across the breast while females have a single gorget that is often broken in the middle. They are usually...