Squacco Heron

Ardeola ralloides

Photo by A. Meir

Description

Photo taken: Eilat, Israel

Identification

Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides RANGE Breeding range very patchy across southern Europe from Iberia to the Balkans and Ukraine. Also in parts of Turkey, the Middle East, Morocco and Egypt and east to Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. In decline in many areas through the drainage of wetlands but the first breeding for Sardinia was recorded in 1985 and the Balearics in 1997. Has a wide but scattered distribution in sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Sudan and Somalia and south to the Cape.

  A summer visitor to most of Pealearctic breeding range, present April-September, but some may overwinter in North Africa. Most winter in sub-Saharan Africa and can be seen in all Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries during passage periods. 
  A vagrant throughout Europe north to Iceland and Finland, also recorded in the Azores, Madeira, Canary Islands and Cape Verde Islands. British records ( c.150), mainly in the south in spring but formerly more common and widespread. 

HABITAT Freshwater swamps, ponds and ditches, often with very small areas of water, also larger waterbodies with dense vegetation, especially reedbeds with scattered willows.

Bird Song

<flashmp3>Ardeola ralloides (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

External Links

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