The Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) is a water kingfisher and is found widely distributed across Africa and Asia. Their black and white plumage, crest and the habit of hovering over clear lakes and rivers before diving for fish makes it distinctive. Males have a double band across the breast while females have a single gorget that is often broken in the middle. They are usually found in pairs or small family parties. When perched, they often bob their head and flick up their tail.
Here’s some photos…..
HIM……… HER………………..
The Photographic Journey of bulldog. 
Terrific! That action shot in the first photo is amazing!
The bird is beautiful and looks very peaceful as well as the pics, especially the first picture. Great shot 🙂
yes they are pretty calm birds and will sit watching the water from one position for a good long time..
Terrific photos Rob!!! I haven’t seen a kingfisher in years…need to get near water cause I’ve been living in the woods for to long!
It might help to be near water if your looking for Kingfishers… but then living in the woods gets you so many different birds one never sees near water…
I love kingfishers. We have them up at the farm and they’re beautiful relaxed birds (in relaxed I mean they don’t fly off when you’re near). They are definitely one of my favourite birds (along with the kookaburra which I’m sure must be a close relation) 😀
Thanks .. funny you should mention the kookaburra I have always assumed it to be a kingfisher type bird.. not having them here I know very little about them… yet must admit came across them when very young depicted on the side of a cricket ball…
Beautiful, this is something I never would see here… especially since there is NO WATER. ha ha
Yep I would be surprised if they were flying around there by you… it might be a warning if they arrive there .. begin building an ark…
It’s a beautiful bird! Very majestic I’d say. Great photos!
Thank you so much for the compliment..
wonderful shots, I am hopeless at taking pics of birds, I am intrigued by the parties these guys have when they gather in parties! Things probably get a bit fishy!! (sorry.. had to say it!).. c
I love it… I was asked earlier about the PIED.. said those pies weren’t so good all feathers and bones and smells a little fishy…
laughter!!
Striking photos — the black & white contrast in their feathers is stunning — !
It is so well camouflaged when sitting in the trees at dams… a lesson I think we stole from them if I look at some uniforms…
What an interesting looking bird. Great photos!
Thank you Ingrid…
Such amazing photos, especially that first one. A very handsome bird indeed.
Thank you.. it’s a easier kingfisher to capture as they are always hovering around…
Well..he has the better hair 😉
That’s true…
Gorgeous photos!
Thank you… they don’t always sit so close for me to get captures like these…
That first shot is amazing!
Thank you..
ooooh, pretty!
smaller than the bigger…
and PIED? how do they feel about that?good for scrambling out of the pastry when it’s cut open? No Marco, that’s small little cute birds – this smaller than the bigger bird eat people like you for breakfast, one peck at a time…
Pied taste terrible… all feathers and bones and smell all fishy…
right i’ll pass on my share to the er, cats then and opt for some leaves instead.
WOW! What a diving into the air (I mean flight) wonderful photographs you captured dear Rob, I am sure you waited for taking these shots… You are amazing. Thank you, have a nice day, love, nia
Thanks Nia.. they came out well…
nice photos..the first one is so well-captured
Thank you… they spend a lot of time like that hovering above the water… so fairly easy to capture…