Appearance:

Largely unmistakable, but might be mistaken for an egret when at a distance. Differs from these in bill-shape and in neck held straight (not retracted) in flight. Plumage white with yellowish half collar and neck tuft in breeding season. Bill and legs dark. Immature birds with black tips to primaries and pinkish bill. Characteristic feeding behaviour with sweeping bill-motions from side to side. Wing-beats slower than Glossy Ibis, and flocks generally fly in single file.

Sound:

Mostly silent, and of little use for identification. Soft utterances can be heard when feeding, and when interacting at nest.

Distribution:

Xeno-canto: map

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

CC

CC-photo:Agustín Povedano, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

Small, stocky, white heron with short bill and neck. Heavy jowl. Plumage all white, except in breeding birds which show varying amount of buff on back, crown and chest. Bill usually yellow, but turns orange-red in breeding birds, and is dark in immatures. Legs pale greyish green, but darker in young birds. May be confused with both Little Egret and Squacco Heron in flight. Differs from Little Egret in leg color and shorter, thicker neck and bill. Told from Squacco Heron by unstreaked body/head, and smaller bill. Generally leaves a less elegant impression than other small herons.

Sound:

Usually silent away from breeding ground. In the colonies a chorus of various coarse sounds can be heard. Most distinct is a disyllabic "rick-rack". Other sounds includes short, guttural utterings, or drawn, harsh shrieks.

Contact calls:

Distribution:

Xeno-canto: map

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