Pied Kingfisher

Ceryle rudis

Silhouette: Steven Traver · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderCoraciiformes (Rollers, Kingfishers, and Allies)
FamilyAlcedinidae (Kingfishers)
GenusCeryle
SpeciesCeryle rudis (Pied Kingfisher)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Mudumalai National Park

3 Verified sightings at Mudumalai National Park From 2019 to 2026

24,135 Verified sightings across all 73 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ 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 Mudumalai National Park

Halcyon smyrnensis

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Alcedo atthis

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Pelargopsis capensis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Merops orientalis

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Coracias benghalensis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Nyctyornis athertoni

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Merops leschenaulti

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

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

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Pied Kingfisher

About the Pied Kingfisher

Recent sightings of Pied Kingfisher in Mudumalai National Park

Closest Relatives at Mudumalai National Park

White-throated Kingfisher

Common Kingfisher

Stork-billed Kingfisher

Asian Green Bee-eater

Indian Roller

Blue-bearded Bee-eater

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found