Pied Kingfisher

The pied kingfisher is a medium-sized water kingfisher about 25cm long, with black-and-white plumage, a neat crest, a black-and-white face mask, a white eyebrow and black-barred upperparts. Males have two black bands across the breast, and females a single broken band. It is the only member of its genus. Five subspecies are recognised, differing in size, bill size and the amount of white (Wikipedia, general species account).

Its habit of hovering over clear lakes and rivers before plunging for fish makes it distinctive. It is usually found in pairs or small family groups, and when perched it often bobs its head and flicks up its tail. It is resident, making only short seasonal movements, and is thought to be one of the three most numerous kingfishers in the world. In India it is resident across a very large range. SoIB 2023 estimates a long-term decline of about 51% and a current fall of about 4% a year, and rates it a Moderate conservation priority (Wikipedia, general species account; SoIB 2023).