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The Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) is a kingfisher in the near passerine bird family Cerylidae, the water kingfishers. It is common throughout sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia from Turkey to China. It is resident, and most birds do not migrate, other than seasonal movements.
This is estimated to be the world's third commonest kingfisher, and is a noisy bird, unmissable within its range.
It is mainly a specialist fishAtlantic herring, Clupea harengus one of the most abundant species in the world Photo A fish is a poikilothermic (cold-blooded) water-dwelling vertebrate with gills. There are over 27,000 species of fish, making them the most diverse group of vertebrates.-eater, although it will take crustaceanCrustaceans Hyalella azteca Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Subphylum Crustacea Classes Remipedia Cephalocarida Branchiopoda Ostracoda Maxillopoda Malacostraca The crustaceans (Crustacea) are a large group of arthropods (55,s and large aquatic insectSubclass Apterygota Symphypleona globular springtails Subclass Archaeognatha (jumping bristletails) Subclass Dicondylia Monura extinct Thysanura (common bristletails) Subclass Pterygota Palaeodictyoptera extinct Ephemeroptera (mayflies) Odonata ( dragonfls. It has evolved two unique strategies, shared by no other kingfishers. As well as hunting from a perch, it will seek fish by hovering prior to a dive, like an OspreyThe Osprey Pandion haliaetus is a medium large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution. It is sometimes known by the misnomers Fish Hawk, Sea Hawk or Fish Eagle. It has white underparts and long, narrow wings with four "finge.
It can also deal with prey without returning to a perch, and can, for example, catch a second fish, or eat small prey in flight. These adaptations mean that this kingfisher can hunt over the sea or in estuaries that lack the perches required by other kingfishers.
This approachable largish (25cm) bird is unmistakable, with its exclusively black-and-white plumage. Unlike some kingfishers, it is quite gregarious, and forms large roosts at night. It can be easily tamed.
Its nest is a hole in a bank, on its own or in a colony, where it lays 3-6 white eggs. As with all kingfishers, the nest of a Pied soon becomes unsanitary.
