Pied Kingfisher
Pied KingfisherPied KingfisherPied KingfisherPied Kingfisher

Pied Kingfisher

Ceryle rudis

Silhouette: Steven Traver · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
at Garden Route National Park
495 Verified sightings at Garden Route National Park From 2019 to 2026
24,135 Verified sightings across all 73 parks From 2019 to 2026
May Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Pied Kingfisher

The pied kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) is a species of water kingfisher widely distributed across Africa and Asia. Originally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758, it has five recognised subspecies, and is the only member of the genus Ceryle. Its black-and white-plumage and crest, as well as its habit of hovering over clear lakes and rivers before diving for fish, make it distinctive. Males have a double band across the breast, while females have a single broken breast band. They are usually found in pairs or small family groups. When perched, they often bob their heads and flick up their tails.

The pied kingfisher was one of the many bird species originally described by Linnaeus in the landmark 1758 10th edition of his Systema Naturae, who noted that it lived in Persia and Egypt. He named it Alcedo rudis. The German naturalist Friedrich Boie erected the genus Ceryle in 1828. The name is from classical Greek kērulos, an unidentified and probably mythical bird mentioned by Aristotle and other authors. The specific epithet rudis is Latin for "wild" or "rude".

The pied kingfisher is the only member of the genus Ceryle. Molecular analysis shows it is an early offshoot... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Garden Route National Park

Brown-hooded Kingfisher
LC

Brown-hooded Kingfisher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Halcyon albiventris

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Giant Kingfisher
LC

Giant Kingfisher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Megaceryle maxima

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Malachite Kingfisher
LC

Malachite Kingfisher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corythornis cristatus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Half-collared Kingfisher
LC

Half-collared Kingfisher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Alcedo semitorquata

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
White-fronted Bee-eater
LC

White-fronted Bee-eater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Merops bullockoides

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Rufous-crowned Roller
LC

Rufous-crowned Roller

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coracias naevius

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
European Roller
LC

European Roller

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coracias garrulus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
European Bee-eater
LC

European Bee-eater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Merops apiaster

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
~70%
2 Niokolo-Koba National Park 🇸🇳 Senegal
~70%
3 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~60%
4 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
~60%
5 Keoladeo National Park 🇮🇳 India
~60%
6 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
~60%
7 Selous Game Reserve 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~50%
8 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~50%
9 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
~50%
10 Kaziranga National Park 🇮🇳 India
~50%
11 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~50%
12 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~50%
13 Chitwan National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
~50%
14 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~40%
15 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~40%
16 Sundarbans National Park 🇮🇳 India
~40%
17 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~40%
18 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~40%
19 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~40%
20 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~40%
21 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~40%
22 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~30%
23 Ranthambore National Park 🇮🇳 India
~30%
24 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~30%
25 Royal Bardia National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
~30%
26 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~30%
27 Yala National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
~30%
28 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~30%
29 Awash National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
~30%
30 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~30%
31 Periyar National Park 🇮🇳 India
~20%
32 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
~20%
33 Jim Corbett National Park 🇮🇳 India
~20%
34 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~20%
35 Gir National Park 🇮🇳 India
~20%
36 Satpura National Park 🇮🇳 India
~20%
37 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
38 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
39 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
40 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
41 Namdapha National Park 🇮🇳 India
~10%
42 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
43 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
~10%
44 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
45 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
46 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
47 Volcanoes National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
~10%
48 Cat Tien National Park 🇻🇳 Vietnam
~10%
49 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
50 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~10%
51 Bandipur National Park 🇮🇳 India
~10%
52 Wilpattu National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
~10%
53 Bandhavgarh National Park 🇮🇳 India
~10%
54 Kanha National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
55 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
56 Minneriya National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
<5%
57 Nagarhole National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
58 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
59 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
60 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
61 Semuliki National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
62 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
63 Manas National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
64 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
65 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
66 Kaeng Krachan National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
<5%
67 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
Insufficient data
68 Mudumalai National Park 🇮🇳 India
Insufficient data
69 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
70 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
71 Royal Manas National Park 🇧🇹 Bhutan
Insufficient data
72 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
73 Doi Inthanon National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Pied Kingfisher in Garden Route National Park?

About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Pied Kingfisher sighting in Garden Route National Park, based on 495 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Pied Kingfisher in Garden Route National Park?

May has the highest sighting rate for Pied Kingfisher in Garden Route National Park in our monthly data.

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