Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
Broad-billed Sandpiper (Calidris falcinellus)
Differs from other white herons in the region by dark legs with contrasting yellow feet and toes. Bill always dark, and lores grey or reddish (breeding birds). Slender and elegant build, as opposed to Cattle Egret. Only roughly half the size of Great White Egret. In flight, note much quicker wing-beats of Little Egret and that the wings of Great White seems to be positioned more at the front of the body. Skulking, foraging behaviour with less erect posture than Great White, also when moving about. Legs less protruding beyond tail in flight than in GWE.
Sound:Sometimes utters a dry, rasping "kerrr" when flushed, but is mostly silent away from breeding ground. In colonies a peculiar gurgling and vibrating sound is heard; "ghala-la-la-la".
Call:
Distribution:
Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CCCan be mistaken for a Dunlin but differs in characteristic double supercilium, unmarked belly and shorter legs. Bill is thicker, almost swollen at base, and more distinctly bent at tip. Overall impression much more contrasty than Dunlin. Winter plumage with dark centres of tertials, and finely striped crown. Juveniles with white V-shaped markings on back, similar to Little Stint. Wing bars and tail markings resembles Dunlin in flight. Moves relatively slow when feeding.
Sound:Distinct contact call. A trilling "drrroiiit" with a peculiar timbre, ending with a rapid rise of pitch. Song often preceded by the contact call, which then fuses into a continuous vibrating trill.
Song:
Distribution:
Xeno-canto: map
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CC