Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Pied Kingfisher
Ceryle rudis
Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) — Kingfishers & Rollers of Africa.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) is a member of the Alcedinidae family found in Africa and South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 84.4 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Coraciiformes
- Family Alcedinidae Kingfishers
- Genus Ceryle
- Species rudis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 84.4 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Alcedinidae
- Order
- Coraciiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Pied Kingfisher hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Pied Kingfisher is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family, part of the order Coraciiformes. It is found across Africa and South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers AF, OR widespread, also Middle East.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 84.4 g, with a wing length of about 13.6 cm and a tail of around 7.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 23.9 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Pied Kingfisher?
The Pied Kingfisher is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 84.4 g.
Where does the Pied Kingfisher live?
The Pied Kingfisher is found across Africa and South & Southeast Asia with a range covering AF, OR widespread, also Middle East, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Pied Kingfisher belong to?
The Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) belongs to the Alcedinidae family, in the order Coraciiformes.
What does the Pied Kingfisher eat?
The Pied Kingfisher hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Pied Kingfisher migrate?
The Pied Kingfisher is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Pied Kingfisher endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Pied Kingfisher make?
1 real field recording of the Pied Kingfisher — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Pied Kingfisher's range?
The Pied Kingfisher has a mapped global range of about 23.9 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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