Appearance:

Always unmistakable. Distinct, foldable, fan-like crest. Rounded, rectangular wings and long curved bill. Buff body, black wings and tail with conspicuous white barring. Catches the eye when flying by in undulating, butterfly-like motion.

Sound:

Song a characteristic, hollow, far-reaching and trisyllabic "hoop-hoop-hoop". Dove-like timbre and slightly ascending in pitch. Sometimes two or four syllables, depending on virility of male. Other calls include a dry, hoarse and rasping "ehrrrrrr".

Song:

Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

Appearance:

Very large, mostly unmistakable bird. Grey upperparts, white underparts and yellow/yellowish bill. Keeps neck retracted when flying (as opposed to crane). May be mistaken for Purple Heron, but back of neck grey, not brown. Bill heavy and dagger-shaped. Neck thicker and less angular than in Purple Heron. Unmarked cheeks.

Sound:

Quite vocal. Most common call a short, far reaching and extremely harsh, rasping sound. At breeding ground a varied repertoire of harsh and clattering sounds.

Flight call:

Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC