Pied Kingfisher

A pencil drawing of a pied kingfisher (Ceryle rudis).

Once crowned the "King" of kingfishers, the African pied kingfisher is best known for its ability to hover over water when hunting for small fish. They are often found in pairs and this female, with a single black band across her chest as opposed to the double bands of the male, was taking a break from fishing on the banks of the river Chobe in Botswana. Although commonly seen, this pair was very relaxed and allowed us to approach unusually close as we explored their section of the river by boat.

Chobe National Park
August 1995