Listen to the Pied kingfisher
Tip: press play to see the sound's live frequency spectrum in blue over the waveform.
About the Pied kingfisher
The Pied kingfisher is a bird in the family Alcedinidae (order Coraciiformes). Its conservation status on the IUCN Red List is “least concern”. Adults weigh around 8 g.
What does the Pied kingfisher sound like?
Most birds have two kinds of vocalisation: songs, which are learned or innate phrases delivered mainly in spring and summer, and calls – brief contact, alarm and begging notes heard all year round. Listening for both helps with identification.
The recordings here are labelled as song. Listen for differences in rhythm, pitch and repetition – the spectrum display makes it easy to see whether a sound is a pure whistle (a thin line), a harsh call (a broad band) or a trill (rapid repeated marks).
From Wikipedia
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.
More from the family Alcedinidae
Common kingfisher
Alcedo atthis
White-throated kingfisher
Halcyon smyrnensis
Laughing kookaburra
Dacelo novaeguineae
Stork-billed kingfisher
Pelargopsis capensis
Grey-headed kingfisher
Halcyon leucocephala
Sacred kingfisher
Todiramphus sanctus
Brown-hooded kingfisher
Halcyon albiventris
Ringed kingfisher
Megaceryle torquata
Green kingfisher
Chloroceryle americana
Shining-blue kingfisher
Alcedo quadribrachys
Blue-winged kookaburra
Dacelo leachii
Frequently asked questions
What does a Pied kingfisher sound like?
You can hear 1 recording of the Pied kingfisher on this page, including its song. Most birds have two kinds of vocalisation: songs, which are learned or innate phrases delivered mainly in spring and summer, and calls – brief contact, alarm and begging notes heard all year round.
Is the Pied kingfisher endangered?
The IUCN Red List classifies the Pied kingfisher as “least concern”.
What family does the Pied kingfisher belong to?
The Pied kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) belongs to the family Alcedinidae in the order Coraciiformes.
Sources & credits
- Song · Busiro, Wakiso, Central Region, Uganda by Anne Ndung'u – CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Wikidata Q320043 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Pied kingfisher – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo by Charles J. Sharp – CC BY-SA 4.0