Appearance:

Small, crepuscular, stocky heron with short legs. Adults unmistakable with black cap, black back, grey wings and white underparts. Immature less distinct, and may be confused with immature Squacco Heron, Little Bittern or Bittern. Differs from all these in distinct white spots covering both wings and back. Belly and breast are more widely covered in coarse streaking, not just the sides or upper chest. Legs just barely protrudes behind tail in flight.

Sound:

Most commonly hear call is a nasal, soft croaking "roack", like cross between Raven and frog.

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

Appearance:

Adults differ from most other waders by bright red legs. Large white rectangular patches on secondaries conspicuous in flight in all plumages. Spotted redshanks in winter- or juvenile plumage lacks white wing bars, are more elegant with a more slender bill, and shows a stronger dark eyestripe and white supercilium. Juvenile Redshanks are unevenly, and sparsely spotted below from the legs to the vent, as opposed to the barring of juvenile Spotted Redshanks. Leg colour in juveniles often dull yellowish. Flanks evenly spotted. Winter plumage with brownish upperparts.

Sound:

Generally a noisy and loud bird, especially at breeding ground. Most heard is a characteristic "tew-hoo", or "tew-hoo-hoo" with first syllable accentuated. No gap between the syllables like Greenshank, and usually with a marked falling pitch. Song similar to Wood Sandpiper, but with three accented notes in each cycle, not two.

Flight/contact 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