Pied Kingfisher
Ceryle rudis
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderCoraciiformes (Rollers, Kingfishers, and Allies)
- FamilyAlcedinidae (Kingfishers)
- GenusCeryle
- SpeciesCeryle rudis (Pied Kingfisher)
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, and is the only member of the genus Ceryle. 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 heads and flick up their tails. Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Striped Kingfisher
Halcyon chelicuti
Malachite Kingfisher
Corythornis cristatus
Giant Kingfisher
Megaceryle maxima
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater
Merops hirundineus
Lilac-breasted Roller
Coracias caudatus
Rufous-crowned Roller
Coracias naevius
European Bee-eater
Merops apiaster
European Roller
Coracias garrulus
Southern Carmine Bee-eater
Merops nubicoides
White-fronted Bee-eater
Merops bullockoides
📅 Monthly Probability
Fewer than 5 records of Pied Kingfisher at Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park — not enough to chart months honestly.
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there