Pretty Close Up

Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis

The pied kingfisher is a water kingfisher and is found widely distributed across Africa and Asia. Its 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.

This male is depicted here at life-size! These little guys are fun to photograph in the sense that they are very fast moving and unpredicatable; but on the other hand their black/white contrast is often difficult to capture without loss of detail.

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