Pygmy Cormorant (Microcarbo pygmaeus)
Spotted Crake (Porzana porzana)
Only about half the size of Great Cormorant.Diagnostic profile with long tail and short, thick neck. Steep forehead and short, dark bill. Adult breeding with fine white speckles on chest and neck. Immatures with varying degree of white breast or underparts. Bare skin in gular area only faintly yellow of pinkish. Flight usually low with rapid wingbeats and interspersed glides (often recalling coot). Perches upright.
Sound:Mostly vocal at breeding ground. Short, nasal croaking sounds in series. Often alternating between deep and high note.
Contact call:
Distribution:
Xeno-canto: map
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CCSmall, secretive bird, usually only heard and not seen. Buff under tail-coverts and zigzag-patterned wings are diagnostic, and separates it from all other small rails in the region except American migrant Sora. Stocky build, with speckled underparts and short yellow bill with red spot at upper base.
Sound:Loud and far reaching song uttered with relentless stamina for hours on end. A monosyllabic, resonant and drawn-out "huiiit". The pith rises towards the emphasized end of the call, which is repeated about once a second. Often compared to the dripping of water. Mostly heard at night, and often i duet with mate. The female answers the male with a slightly deeper and softer call, giving the impression of one bird giving a disyllabic call.
Song:
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 Edmunds Racinskis