X-Nico

unusual facts about Pied Kingfisher



American green kingfisher

These water kingfishers are descended from a common ancestor which seems to have been closely related to a progenitor of the Pied Kingfisher (which at that stage had not yet lost the metallic plumage tone), and are similar in plumage and habits (Moyle, 2006).

Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve

Among the colourful family of kingfishers, who preferably occur near open water, the Woodland Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis), Swallow-tailed Bee-eater (Merops hirundineus), Giant Kingfisher (Ceryle maxima), Malachite Kingfisher (Alcedo cristata) and the Blue-breasted Kingfisher (Halcyon malimbica) are notable.

Belted Kingfisher

The Megaceryle large green kingfishers were formerly placed in Ceryle with the Pied Kingfisher, but the latter is closer to the Chloroceryle American green kingfishers.

Megaceryle

The Megaceryle kingfishers were formerly placed in Ceryle with the Pied Kingfisher, but the latter is genetically closer to the American green kingfishers.

Ringed Kingfisher

The Megaceryle kingfishers were formerly placed in the genus Ceryle with the Pied Kingfisher, but the latter is genetically closer to the American green kingfishers.

Water kingfisher

Not longer than 5 million years ago - possibly as recently as 2.9 million years ago -, an Old World giant kingfisher became the ancestor of the Belted and Ringed Kingfishers, and later, another species related to the Pied Kingfisher became the ancestor of the Chloroceryle green kingfishers after colonizing the Americas.

The Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis), the only member of Ceryle, is widespread in the tropical regions of the Old World.


see also