Pied Kingfisher

Boldly marked black-and-white kingfisher with short, bushy crest and glossy all-dark bill. Superficially similar to Crested Kingfisher, but smaller, with a much more distinctly patterned head and breast and less erect crest. Frequently seen perched in pairs or small groups. Often hovers over water when seeking prey. Inhabits a wide range of waterside habitats, from lakes to estuaries to mangroves. Gives a variety of sharp notes, as well as dry trilling and rattling calls.

The pied kingfisher in Sri Lanka lives in a variety of waterside habitats, including lakes, rivers, estuaries, and mangroves.

In Sri Lanka, the Pied Kingfisher primarily feeds on small fish, supplementing its diet with aquatic insects like dragonfly larvae, small crustaceans, and occasionally small frogs, all caught by hovering over water and diving down to capture prey.