Bird
Pied Kingfisher
Ceryle rudisPied Kingfishers are boldly black-and-white birds with shaggy crests, long pointed bills, and spotted wings. They often hover over open water before plunging headfirst after fish, then return to a perch to swallow the catch.
kingfisherhovering hunterfish-eating bird
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preySmall fishes, aquatic insects, crabs
Predators
- raptors
- monitor lizards
- snakes
ThreatsWater pollution, loss of nesting banks, fishing-line entanglement, disturbance, and prey decline
HabitatsRivers, lakes, reservoirs, estuaries, lagoons, canals, and sheltered coasts
Life spanOften five to eight years, though survival varies greatly after fledging
Classification
- OrderCoraciiformes
- FamilyAlcedinidae
- GenusCeryle
- SpeciesCeryle rudis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Stay back from earthen nesting banks and remove discarded fishing line where permitted.
Responsible observation
- Identify: Look for a shaggy crest and sharp black-and-white pattern without blue tones.
- Watch: Scan above open water for a bird hovering before a vertical plunge.
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