In Singapore, Crested kingfishers are not present, and even in Japan they can be difficult to observe. Aside from a few well-known locations, such as the Kuma River in Kumamoto, seeing one requires patience and luck.
I had heard that they can be observed in parts of Southeast Asia, but despite going birding there more than fifteen times, I had never managed to see one.
That finally changed in Uganda.
Relatively Common at Lake Mburo
At Lake Mburo National Park, the Pied Kingfisher could be seen quite easily. In terms of rarity, it felt roughly comparable to a thrush in Japan—a species that is not rare once you know where to look.
Seeing it so readily after years of unsuccessful attempts elsewhere was a pleasant surprise
Simple but Elegant Plumage
The Pied Kingfisher has a striking black-and-white plumage, giving it a simple yet elegant appearance. The bird we observed was noticeably slimmer than the Common Kingfisher in Japan, which gave it a graceful and agile impression.
Looking Ahead
Uganda is also known for hosting the Giant Kingfisher, another species we unfortunately did not see this time. That alone gives us a good reason to return — hopefully on our next visit we will be able to add it to our list.