A large, black and white Kingfisher. Size 25-29cm A bit larger than a Laughing Dove. Afr: Bontvisvanger

As with other Kingfishers, the bill is long, straight and dagger like. It is blackish in colour - as are the eyes. The feet and legs are black.

The Pied Kingfisher is virtually all black and white. The upper-parts are blackish with a pattern of white markings, which give it a scaled and barred look.

The underparts are white, and the male has a double breast band , the upper one of which is much broader than the lower, narrow one. The female has just one broad band across the chest.

The Pied Kingfisher is a common and obvious bird of any waterside habitat. It is found on the seashore, on lagoons, lakes, dams, rivers and wetlands. It usually occurs in pairs, or small groups. It is either seen perched on a prominent spot, or hovering above the water. This is the only species of Kingfisher, which regularly hovers above water. It will hover until a target comes into sight and then suddenly plunge headlong into the water.

The Pied Kingfisher eats fish, insects and crabs.

This species makes a range of high-pitched twitters and squeaks. A common call is a sharp kwik-kwik-kwik-kwik

The Pied Kingfisher nests mainly from August to November. The nest is inside a tunnel, excavated in a vertical earthen bank. The tunnel is excavated by the birds, and is usually just longer than a metre.