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Pied kingfisher perched on branch

Pied kingfisher

Pied kingfishers hover far more than any other kingfisher species. They hold their trunk nearly vertical and beat their wings rapidly with their head and bill angled sharply down. The pied plumage is easy to distinguish - it is the only entirely black and white kingfisher.

Scientific name: Ceryle rudis

Rank: Species

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Distribution

Map showing the distribution of the Pied kingfisher taxa

Species range provided by WWF's Wildfinder.

The Pied kingfisher can be found in a number of locations including: Africa, Asia, China, Europe, Indian subcontinent, Mediterranean. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.

Habitats

The following habitats are found across the Pied kingfisher distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.

Behaviours

Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.

Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web

Conservation Status

Least Concern

  1. EX - Extinct
  2. EW
  3. CR - Threatened
  4. EN - Threatened
  5. VU - Threatened
  6. NT
  7. LC - Least concern

Year assessed: 2009

Classified by: IUCN 3.1

About

The Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) is a water kingfisher and is found widely distributed across Africa and Asia. Their black and white plumage, crest and the habit of hovering over clear lakes and rivers before diving for fish makes 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 found in pairs or small family parties. When perched, they often bob their head and flick up their tail.

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Classification

  1. Life
  2. Animals
  3. Vertebrates
  4. Birds
  5. Kingfishers and hornbills
  6. Cerylidae
  7. Ceryle
  8. Pied kingfisher

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