Bittern (Botaurus stellaris)
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena)
Bulky, golden-brown heron with thick neck and short legs. Largely unmistakable but skulky behaviour makes it difficult to observe, as it generally forages hidden in reed-beds. Plumage mottled above, with coarse stripes below. Primaries and most secondaries with dark barring, in contrast to paler coverts. May recall Eagle Owl in flight with broad, rounded wings and retracted neck, but wings are bowed and legs trail behind tail. Crown and moustache stripe black in adult and brown in immature birds. Betrays its presence by it's far reaching song.
Sound:Flight call a deep croaking "graat". Song unmistakable and far reaching (up to 5 km). Pitch very deep, with timbre similar to blowing on a big empty bottle. At close range an "inbreath" is also audible (1-3 dampened, higher pitched introductory notes).
Song (note; recording not audible on small mobile devices):
Distribution:
Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CCGeneral characters; differs from Slavonian Grebe in longer bill (which makes the head look longer), greyish cheeks and thicker neck. Summer; light grey throat and cheeks with contrasting black cap and chestnut neck. Winter; differs from Great Crested Grebe in lacking white area above eyes and having a dark bill with yellow base.
Sound:Most vocal at breeding ground. Wide repertoire of harsh, raucous and wailing sounds.
Display:
Distribution:
Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CCSounds:Recorded by Fraser Simpson,http://www.xeno-canto.org ,CC license