---
title: "Martin pescatore bianco e nero"
description: "Ceryle rudis — Uccelli. The pied kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) is a species of water kingfisher widely distributed across Africa and Asia."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/it/animal/pied-kingfisher
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Martin pescatore bianco e nero

> Ceryle rudis — Uccelli. The pied kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) is a species of water kingfisher widely distributed across Africa and Asia.

- Scientific name: *Ceryle rudis*
- Category: `birds` (Uccelli)
- Habitats: `freshwater` (Laghi e fiumi)
- iNaturalist observations: 15266
- Wikidata: [Q320043](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q320043)
- iNaturalist taxon: [2662](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/2662)

## Names

- en: Pied Kingfisher
- de: Graufischer
- es: Martín pescador pío
- fr: Martin-pêcheur pie
- it: Martin pescatore bianco e nero
- nl: Bonte ijsvogel
- pt: Guarda-rios-malhado
- pl: Rybaczek srokaty

## Countries with the most observations

ZA (3464), IN (2585), UG (823), KE (818), BW (672), EG (564), CN (559), IL (505), HK (444), GM (440), ZM (356), TZ (340)

## Summary

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.

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pied_kingfisher

## Photo

![Martin pescatore bianco e nero](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/pied-kingfisher/medium.jpg)

Photo: Andrew Deacon · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/170026467

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/pied-kingfisher?lang=it` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).