Pied Kingfisher
Pied KingfisherPied KingfisherPied KingfisherPied Kingfisher

Pied Kingfisher

Ceryle rudis

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
30–40% · Possible
overall probability at Ruaha National Park
93 Verified records at Ruaha National Park
September Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

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. Wikipedia →

30–40% of wildlife watchers report a Pied Kingfisher sighting in Ruaha National Park, based on 93 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Ruaha National Park

Woodland Kingfisher
LC

Woodland Kingfisher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Halcyon senegalensis

10–20% · With luck
Giant Kingfisher
LC

Giant Kingfisher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Megaceryle maxima

10–20% · With luck
Gray-headed Kingfisher
LC

Gray-headed Kingfisher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Halcyon leucocephala

10–20% · With luck
African Pygmy-Kingfisher
LC

African Pygmy-Kingfisher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ispidina picta

5–10% · With luck
Brown-hooded Kingfisher
LC

Brown-hooded Kingfisher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Halcyon albiventris

5–10% · With luck
Malachite Kingfisher
LC

Malachite Kingfisher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corythornis cristatus

<5% · Rare
Striped Kingfisher
LC

Striped Kingfisher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Halcyon chelicuti

<5% · Rare
Lilac-breasted Roller
LC

Lilac-breasted Roller

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coracias caudatus

50–60% · Likely
Little Bee-eater
LC

Little Bee-eater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Merops pusillus

50–60% · Likely
Rufous-crowned Roller
LC

Rufous-crowned Roller

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coracias naevius

20–30% · Possible
European Bee-eater
LC

European Bee-eater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Merops apiaster

20–30% · With luck
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater
LC

Swallow-tailed Bee-eater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Merops hirundineus

10–20% · With luck

📅 Monthly Probability

20–30
Jan
20–30
Feb
20–30
Mar
20–30
Apr
20–30
May
20–30
Jun
50–60
Jul
30–40
Aug
60–70
Sep
20–30
Oct
30–40
Nov
20–30
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
70–80%
2 Niokolo-Koba National Park 🇸🇳 Senegal
60–70%
3 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
60–70%
4 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
50–60%
5 Keoladeo National Park 🇮🇳 India
50–60%
6 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
50–60%
7 Selous Game Reserve 🇹🇿 Tanzania
50–60%
8 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
50–60%
9 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
40–50%
10 Kaziranga National Park 🇮🇳 India
40–50%
11 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
40–50%
12 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
40–50%
13 Chitwan National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
40–50%
14 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
40–50%
15 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
40–50%
16 Sundarbans National Park 🇮🇳 India
40–50%
17 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
40–50%
18 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
40–50%
19 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
40–50%
20 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
40–50%
21 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
30–40%
22 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
30–40%
23 Ranthambore National Park 🇮🇳 India
30–40%
24 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
30–40%
25 Royal Bardia National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
30–40%
26 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
30–40%
27 Yala National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
30–40%
28 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
30–40%
29 Awash National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
20–30%
30 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
20–30%
31 Periyar National Park 🇮🇳 India
20–30%
32 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
20–30%
33 Jim Corbett National Park 🇮🇳 India
10–20%
34 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
10–20%
35 Satpura National Park 🇮🇳 India
10–20%
36 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
10–20%
37 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
10–20%
38 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
10–20%
39 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
10–20%
40 Namdapha National Park 🇮🇳 India
10–20%
41 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
10–20%
42 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
10–20%
43 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
5–10%
44 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
5–10%
45 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
5–10%
46 Volcanoes National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
5–10%
47 Cat Tien National Park 🇻🇳 Vietnam
5–10%
48 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
5–10%
49 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
5–10%
50 Bandipur National Park 🇮🇳 India
5–10%
51 Wilpattu National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
5–10%
52 Bandhavgarh National Park 🇮🇳 India
5–10%
53 Kanha National Park 🇮🇳 India
5–10%
54 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
5–10%
55 Minneriya National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
<5%
56 Nagarhole National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
57 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
58 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
59 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
60 Semuliki National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
61 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
62 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
63 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
64 Kaeng Krachan National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
<5%
65 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
Insufficient data
66 Mudumalai National Park 🇮🇳 India
Insufficient data
67 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
68 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
69 Royal Manas National Park 🇧🇹 Bhutan
Insufficient data
70 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
71 Doi Inthanon National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
Insufficient data

Quick answers

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

About 34% of wildlife watchers report a Pied Kingfisher sighting in Ruaha National Park, based on 93 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

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

September has the highest sighting rate for Pied Kingfisher in Ruaha National Park in our monthly data.

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