Least Concern Birds

Pied Kingfisher

Ceryle rudis

A black-and-white kingfisher famous for hovering over water before plunge-diving for fish.

Scientific name	Ceryle rudis
Swahili name	Mzamiaji
Conservation status	Least Concern
Class	Aves
Order	Coraciiformes
Family	Alcedinidae
Size	About 25 cm long and 70-100 g; a medium-sized kingfisher

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How to identify

Wholly black-and-white, speckled and barred, without the bright colours of other kingfishers; a short crest and a long black dagger-like bill; males have a double black breast band, females a single one

Habitat

All kinds of open water — lakes, rivers, reservoirs and coastal lagoons

Diet

Feeds almost entirely on small fish, also taking aquatic insects and crustaceans

When it is active

Diurnal, hunting by day while hovering on a fixed spot over the water

Where it lives

Widespread across Africa and Asia; extremely common along East African lakes and rivers, the region's commonest kingfisher

How to spot it

Look along lakeshores, riverbanks and near bridges; a black-and-white bird hovering over water and then diving is almost certainly this species

Photography tips

Use a fast shutter to freeze the hovering wingbeats, or catch the plunge and the fish-grab; meter carefully over bright water to avoid crushed blacks or blown highlights