Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
Unmistakable. Dark green (appears black at a distance) above and white below. Wings also dark above and white below, with diagnostic rounded and broad tips. Squarish head profile with striking crest. Winter and juvenile plumage with scaled back, and less contrasting breast band.
Sound:Quite vocal, especially in flight at breeding ground. Territorial call: Dry, introductory phrases followed by drawn-out mewing sounds; "wyrrr-peeeoo-weeep". Alarm call "pee-wit".
Flight 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
CCSmall, 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
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CC