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 →
40–50% of wildlife watchers report a Pied Kingfisher sighting in Lower Zambezi National Park, based on 99 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Lower Zambezi National Park
Brown-hooded Kingfisher
Halcyon albiventris
Giant Kingfisher
Megaceryle maxima
Half-collared Kingfisher
Alcedo semitorquata
Malachite Kingfisher
Corythornis cristatus
Woodland Kingfisher
Halcyon senegalensis
Gray-headed Kingfisher
Halcyon leucocephala
Striped Kingfisher
Halcyon chelicuti
African Pygmy-Kingfisher
Ispidina picta
White-fronted Bee-eater
Merops bullockoides
Lilac-breasted Roller
Coracias caudatus
Little Bee-eater
Merops pusillus
Southern Carmine Bee-eater
Merops nubicoides
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ 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
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Pied Kingfisher in Lower Zambezi National Park?
About 44% of wildlife watchers report a Pied Kingfisher sighting in Lower Zambezi National Park, based on 99 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Pied Kingfisher in Lower Zambezi National Park?
June has the highest sighting rate for Pied Kingfisher in Lower Zambezi National Park in our monthly data.