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Distribution
Pied Kingfisher is a large kingfisher of Egypt, South Asia, the Middle East, and Turkey. The birds do not migrate except for short-distance movements.
Identification
Striking pied plumage, with one or more black breast bands, ‘striped’ head pattern, and marbled upper parts, renders it unmistakable. Pied kingfisher is more conspicuous and sociable than other kingfishers, often perching in small parties. The bird flight is rather slow and often quite high, frequently hovering high above water before plunging purposefully. Hover-and-dive action recalls Little Tern in style. Mostly busy catching fishes in water areas.
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Sex/Age
The adult female has one broad but broken breast band (two complete bands, lower one narrower, in the adult male). The juvenile closely resembles adult females, but the breast band is usually unbroken and greyish-black rather than black; has some blackish scaling on white areas on the head and neck, and on the throat.
Habitats
Pied Kingfisher is locally common. Found nearby rivers, canals, lakes, fishponds, marshes, coastal lagoons, and adjacent sheltered coastal waters. This kingfisher is one of the three most many kingfishers in the world, along with collared kingfisher and common kingfisher.
Calls
Pied Kingfisher typical calls are a repeated, noisy, penetrating ‘kwik’ or ‘kik’ and a high ‘TREEtiti TREEtiti’.
Size
Pied kingfisher size is L 24–26 cm, WS 45–47 cm.
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