<< Previous Next >>

Pied Kingfisher


Pied Kingfisher
Photo Information
Copyright: Mike Rolfe (fiftysomething) Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 45 W: 3 N: 121] (576)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-12-02
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 30D, Canon EF100-400 F4.5-5.6L IS USM, 77mm UV
Exposure: f/6.7, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Volkan's Best [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-03-19 3:42
Viewed: 588
Points: 14
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) is a kingfisher in the near passerine bird family Cerylidae, the water kingfishers. It is the only member of the genus Ceryle.

Pied Kingfishers hunt by hovering above water and dive bill first into water to catch fish.It is common throughout sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia from Turkey to India to China. It is resident, and most birds do not migrate, other than seasonal movements.

The Pied Kingfisher is estimated to be the world's third commonest kingfisher, and is a noisy bird, unmissable within its range.

It is mainly a specialist fish-eater, although it will take crustaceans and large aquatic insects.

It has evolved two unique strategies, shared by no other kingfishers. The Pied Kingfisher can hunt in both salt and freshwater.It can also deal with prey without returning to a perch, and can, for example, catch a second fish, or eat small prey in flight. These adaptations mean that this kingfisher can hunt over the sea or in estuaries that lack the perches required by other kingfishers.

This approachable largish (25cm) bird is unmistakable, with its exclusively black-and-white plumage. Unlike some kingfishers, it is quite gregarious, and forms large roosts at night. It can be easily tamed.

Its nest is a hole in a bank, on its own or in a colony, where it lays 3-6 white eggs. The pied kingfisher sometimes reproduces co-operatively, with young non-breeding birds assisting the breeding pair. As with all kingfishers, the nest of a Pied soon becomes unsanitary.
soccer, pekkavalo1, Miss_Piggy, goldyrs, albert, flashpoint, angela926 has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Hi Mike,

Great shot with good detail and BG. Can imagine the pain and effort behind this if these are near as timid as the European ones. Great work!

Thanks for sharing

Pekka

Hallo Mike
Absolutely beautiful!. An awesome portrait and fantastic close-up of this kingfisher. A clear picture with perfect point of view. That beak is sooo big, it looks like it should tip the bird over. The black and white combo is a beautiful display and you handled it well. The flash back in the eye is super. This one is really super. Thanks for sharing and enjoy your day.
Kind regards
Anna

Mike,

A well composed pic that is sharp, detailed, has good POV, DOF and BG. It is a superb close up. Well Done.
TFS,
Sheriff

Mike,
This is an amazing shot, with perfect details and light.
Very well done, indeed!
Cheers!
Goldy

Hello Mike,
Beautiful pose of this Kingfisher
good photo too with true colours and sharp details on the plumage
Well done
Albert

Hello Mike,
Great close up, good composition and pov, nice sharpness and superb depth of field, beautiful colors and nice contrast.
Angela

Great photo with good detail. I love the soft background along with the contrasting colors of the bird.

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF