Pied Kingfisher

Afrikaans name: Bontvisvanger

A Pied Kingfisher looking for prey

Photo © Steven Herbert

Ceryle rudis

The Pied Kingfisher is a common sight on bodies of water across South Africa. It is actually a very common kingfisher in a number of parts of the world.

This kingfisher lives up to its name and will be found at almost any body of water where there is a supply of small fish. Besides fish it does eat invertebrates such as dragonflies, grasshoppers and other water life.

The Pied Kingfisher is usually seen perched on a stump or branch on, or near, water or hovering over it. When it sees suitable prey it dives in after it. It batters any fish that it catches on a branch before swallowing it head first.

When breeding they make a tunnel into a bank. The tunnel ends in a chamber where around 5 eggs are laid. Other Pied Kingfishers act as helpers during the breeding process.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	394	Ceryle rudis rudis
2nd	394	Ceryle rudis
3rd	394	Ceryle rudis
4th	394	Ceryle rudis
5th	428	Ceryle rudis
6th	428	Ceryle rudis
7th	99	Ceryle rudis

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	394	Pied Kingfisher
2nd	394	Pied Kingfisher
3rd	394	Pied Kingfisher
4th	394	Pied Kingfisher
5th	428	Pied Kingfisher
6th	428	Pied Kingfisher
7th	99	Pied Kingfisher

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	394	Bont-visvanger
2nd	394	Bont Visvanger
3rd	394	Bont Visvanger
4th	394	Bont Visvanger
5th	428	Bontvisvanger
6th	428	Bontvisvanger
7th	99	Bontvisvanger

References and further reading

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 50

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 124

Wildlife of the Cape Peninsula - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2001 - Page: 55

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 52

The Coastal Guide of South Africa - Author: Jacana Media - Published: 2007 - Page: 98

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1979 - Page: 28

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 160

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 144

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 256

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 31

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 248

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 282

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 373

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 369

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 52

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 210

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 269

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 248

Questions and Answers - Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Deirdre Richards - Published: 1990 - Page: 5

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 248

Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 411

Meeting with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1986 - Page: 64

Freshwater Life - Author: C. Griffiths, J. Day & M. Picker - Published: 2015 - Page: 62

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 176

Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind - Author: B. Hilton-Barber & Prof. L. R. Berger - Published: 2004 - Page: 182

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 122

Everyones Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 52

Common Birds of the North Coast - Author: Bing Comrie - Published: 2005 - Page: 42

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 142

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 46

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 75

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 54

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 133

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 126

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 158

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Published: 1987 - Page: 90

African Wildlife - Vol 38 No 2 - Author: - Published: 1984 - Page: 87

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 98

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 98

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 170

BirdLife South Africa

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List of South African Birds