Pied Kingfisher

Afrikaans name: Bontvisvanger

A Pied Kingfisher looking for prey

Photo © Steven Herbert

Ceryle rudis

The Pied Kingfisher is a common sight on bodies of water across South Africa. It is actually a very common kingfisher in a number of parts of the world.

This kingfisher lives up to its name and will be found at almost any body of water where there is a supply of small fish. Besides fish it does eat invertebrates such as dragonflies, grasshoppers and other water life.

The Pied Kingfisher is usually seen perched on a stump or branch on, or near, water or hovering over it. When it sees suitable prey it dives in after it. It batters any fish that it catches on a branch before swallowing it head first.

When breeding they make a tunnel into a bank. The tunnel ends in a chamber where around 5 eggs are laid. Other Pied Kingfishers act as helpers during the breeding process.

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References and further reading

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Year Published: 1983 - Page: 170

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1959 - Page: 98

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 98

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 90

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 126

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Year Published: 1992 - Page: 54

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Year Published: - Page: 133

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 142

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Year Published: 1999 - Page: 46

Common Birds of the North Coast - Author: Bing Comrie - Year Published: 2005 - Page: 42

Everyone's Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 52

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 122

Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind - Author: B. Hilton-Barber & Prof. L. R. Berger - Year Published: 2004 - Page: 182

Ian Sinclair's Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Year Published: 1988 - Page: 176

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 1984 - Page: 248

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 2000 - Page: 248

Questions and Answers - Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Deirdre Richards - Year Published: 1990 - Page: 5

Reader's Digest Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of Southern Africa - 2nd edi - Author: Editor - Alan Duggan - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 411

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Year Published: 1949 - Page: 160

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 269

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Year Published: 1981 - Page: 282

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 373

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 369

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 248

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 256

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Year Published: 1989 - Page: 31

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Year Published: 1979 - Page: 28

The Coastal Guide of South Africa - Author: Jacana Media - Year Published: 2007 - Page: 98

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 124

List of South African Birds