Pair of Pieds

Pied Kingfishers Ceryle rudis

These beautiful little guys are very common in the Southern African region. Nevertheless, they are extremely photogenic and are deserving of a place in any record of the region’s fauna.

Their black and white plumage, crest and the habit of hovering over clear lakes and rivers before diving for fish makes it distinctive. Males, as seen on the right, 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.

This image was captured on the Chobe River, near the town of Kasane, northern Botswana, Southern Africa.