Kingfishers

Pied Kingfisher

Ceryle rudis

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.

Family

Kingfishers

Order

Coraciiformes

Weight

84 g

Habitat

Wetland

Diet

Vertebrates, fish and carrion

Migration

Resident

Countries recorded

55

Photo: Anjan Kumar Kundu, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons