Bird of the week #65: Pied kingfisher

Bird of the week

The pied kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) is a species of water kingfisher widely distributed across Africa and Asia. Originally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758, it has five recognised subspecies. Its black and white plumage and crest, as well as its 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 broken breast band. They are usually found in pairs or small family groups. When perched, they often bob their head and flick up their tail.

The pied kingfisher is the largest bird in the world that is able to hover without using air currents. This means it doesn’t need a perch to hunt for fish, but can do so from the middle of a lake.

The Pied Kingfisher, (Afrikaans name, Bontvisvanger) is a common resident at freshwater wetlands, coastal lagoons and tidal pools.

Permission granted to use this photo  by Andriette Pretorius Photography