Birds of Sicily

Bufflehead / Büffelkopfente (Bucephala albeola)
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Wikipedia: Bufflehead Source: WIKIPEDIA 1200px-Bucephala-albeola-007.jpg
🔍 Never observed (yet!)

Description

Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General: The bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) is a small sea duck of the genus Bucephala, the goldeneyes. This species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his landmark 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae as Anas albeola.^[2] [more]
Details

Red-breasted merganser / Mittelsäger (Mergus serrator)
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Mittelsäger-Paar im Luppmen in Fehraltorf. 2025-02-03 16:58:13 Luppmen
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-04-06.

Description

Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Asia.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL R
Personal notes: Zuerst gesehen in Lago Maggiore in Locarno. Jan 2022 auch als Wintergast am Pfäffikersee. [Link]
Appearance and identification: In winter you can admire a few of these birds with the straggly tuft. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 05-01 - 07-29
Migration in: 10-18 - 12-31
Migration out: 02-20 - 05-21
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=52-58 cm, wingspan=70-86 cm, weight=900-1350 g
Habitats: River and lake

Similar species

Looks similar to: Greater scaup. Details

Mallard / Stockente (Anas platyrhynchos)
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Stockente Weibchen. 2024-08-02 15:56:02 Greifensee
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2020-05-20.

Description

Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: Common waterbird at Pfäffikersee
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Etymology: Der heutige Name kann als Hinweis auf ihre Brutplätze verstanden werden, zu denen auf Stock gesetzte Weiden, Weidengebüsch oder auch Reisighaufen gehören. ['Stock' wird weiter erklärt: Als Stockausschlag bezeichnet man bei Bäumen und Sträuchern Triebe, die nach dem Verlust der primären Sprossachse neu aus dem Stumpf oder Stubben (der dann „Stock“ genannt wird) austreiben.] [Link]
The name 'was derived from the Old French malart or mallart for "wild drake"' [Link]
Dazu zählt der charakteristische Grunzpfiff der Männchen, der lautmalerisch mit „gerijib“ oder „fihb“ umschrieben wird. [Link]
Vocalization: Female: A distinct coarse, laughing quacking; "haaa ha ha ha ha ha", with first note accented and then descending in pitch. Male: a more silent, very nasal "rriib". [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 03-12 - 07-29
Migration in: 02-01 - 05-01
Migration out: 07-29 - 12-31
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=50-65 cm, wingspan=81-98 cm, weight=750-1450 g
Habitats: River and lake
Details

Eurasian teal / Krickente (Anas crecca)
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Krickente Männchen, Klingnauerstausee. 2022-02-05 12:51:34 Klingnauer Stausee (man-made lake)
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-01-26.

Description

Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: Wintergast am Teich am Aa-Bach beim Südende des Pfäffikersee
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL 3
Etymology: Die hellen «krrik»-Rufe der stimmfreudigen Erpel verhalfen dieser Art zu ihrem deutschen Namen. [Link]
Vocalization: Male: characteristic, short, highly resonant and metallic "plytt". A bit similar to Pintail, but higher pitched and lacking accompanying whistling sound. Female: various quacking sounds generally quicker paced, more nasal and noticeably higher pitched than Mallard. [Link]

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=34-38 cm, wingspan=58-64 cm, weight=200-450 g
Habitats: River and lake

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC619133-Krickente von Peter Bosman, Belgium.mp3 (song)


Blup blup, fast wie vom Computer generiert, fur mich nohe Noten (obwohl Sonogram nur 2.5 KHz zeigt)

Call attributes: Call melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: low (1-3 KHz),
Details

Northern shoveler / Löffelente (Spatula clypeata)
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Löffelente am Klingnauerstausee. 2022-02-06 08:47:36 Klingnauer Stausee (man-made lake)
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-02-08.

Description

Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: Wintergast am Greifensee.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL 3
Appearance and identification: PK: white, black, rust-brown, yellow eyes, black spoonbill, red legs.
Vocalization: Male is characteristic and most often heard: A hoarse nasal knocking sound "took took", often staccato or disyllabic. Female similar to Mallard but flatter and more creaking. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=44-52 cm, wingspan=70-84 cm, weight=470-800 g
Habitats: River and lake
Details

Northern pintail / Spiessente (Anas acuta)
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Spiessente plus 2 Hockerschwäne. 2024-12-07 12:01:46
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2022-01-27.

Description

Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: Long tailfeathers make the name obvious, also a thin white stripe from the white neck up the back of the head.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL 3
Vocalization: Female: similar to Mallards coarse laughing sound, but with a more emphasized first "haaa", and a more silent accelerating subsequent "laugh". Male: Pleasant, resonant "plop" similar to Teal, but lower pitched, richer, mellower and not so metallic. Accompanied by a higher pitched, slightly raspy whistling "aiiooo" rising and falling in pitch. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Migration in: 02-01 - 05-10
Migration out: 08-18 - 12-07
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=51-66 cm, wingspan=51-66 cm, weight=500-1100 g
Habitats: River and lake
Details

Garganey / Knäkente (Anas querquedula)
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Garganey (I can remember the German name Knaekenten better) coming in for a landing. 2025-04-21 09:44:19 Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2025-04-21.

Description

General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL 2

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-01 - 09-25

Other Details

Habitats: River and lake
Details

Eurasian wigeon / Pfeifente (Mareca penelope)
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The big gull is a Mittelmeermoewe then there's a Lachmoewe and two Pfeifenten. 2025-09-13 14:11:02 Klingnauer Stausee (man-made lake)
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-02-24.

Description

Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast
Etymology: Es ist der Ruf des Männchens, der zu dem deutschen Namen der Art geführt hat. Das Männchen leitet seine kurzen, scharfen, zwei- bis dreisilbigen pfeifenden wiu-Rufe häufig mit einem krr krkrkrr ein. [Link]
Appearance and identification: Funny red head (made me confused it with the Kolbente) that's brown with a golden forehead (Kolbente is brown, a bit lighter at the back of the head) is the obvious characteristic. Also has a nice black and white pattern on its back and wings with white-rimmed black feathers at the end of the wing, a bit of white before a black butt.
Vocalization: Male: a pleasant high pitched whistle "piiiiuuu", rapidly rising in pitch and then falling. Quite vocal. Female: a harsh "kraaa kraaa kraa" more like female diving-ducks than other dabbling-ducks. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Migration in: 02-20 - 05-10
Migration out: 09-07 - 12-31
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=45-51 cm, wingspan=75-86 cm, weight=500-1000 g
Habitats: River and lake

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC613742-Pfeifente von Adrien Mauss.mp3 (song)


Pfeifen, fast wie ein Rotmilan oder Mäusebussard. Ton steigt und fällt!

Call attributes: Call melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: low (1-3 KHz),
Details

Gadwall / Schnatterente (Mareca strepera)
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MerlinBirdID meint Schnatterente - ich habe gehofft herauszufinden welche Ente das typische Gelbe da hinten hat. 2022-02-05 14:34:58 Klingnauer Stausee (man-made lake)
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-02-08.

Description

Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: In my mind this is the chocolate duck.
General: Deutschland: Brutvogel im 19. Jahrhundert aus Osteuropa und Asien zugewandert
Etymology: The etymology of the word gadwall is not known, but the name has been in use since 1666.[9] [Link]
Nabu: Die Schnatterente fällt aber – wie ihr Name schon vermuten lässt – durch ihre Art der Nahrungssuche auf. Sie durchschnattert das Wasser mit ihrem Schnabel. [Link]
Appearance and identification: Chocolate bill, black-and-white pattern on head, shoulders, belly, sides of wings, chocolate patterned wings, black butt, a bit of white before the butt.
Appearance and identification: Nabu: Die Schnatterente ähnelt auf den ersten Blick so sehr der weiblichen Stockente, dass man diese schnell verwechseln kann. [Link]
Seasonal Behavior: Wintergast am Greifensee.

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-20 - 07-20
Migration in: 02-20 - 05-21
Migration out: 07-20 - 12-31
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=46-56 cm, wingspan=84-95 cm, weight=550-1000 g
Habitats: River and lake

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2021-10-24 13:12:46 Source: Zoom H6/H2n Neeracherried (song)

Details

Common pochard / Tafelente (Aythya ferina)
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Tafelente mit roten Augen, braunem Kopf, Schnabel schwarz plus silber, fein und schön gemusterte Feder am Rücken. 2022-02-05 13:09:16 Klingnauer Stausee (man-made lake)
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-02-08.

Description

Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
General: Wintergast am Greifensee.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast in den westl. Bundesl. erst seit den 1920/1930er heimisch
Etymology: Die in der deutschen Sprache übliche Bezeichnung Tafelente ist ein Hinweis auf das als schmackhaft angesehene Fleisch dieses Entenvogels. [Link]
Appearance and identification: Tafelente: Wiederspruch: wer isst ein Tier mit roten Augen?Rostbraun, schwarz, schwarz-weiss-gemustert, Schnabel schwarz UND weiss.
Vocalization: Female: a coarse "ahrrrrrrr-ahrrrrr-ahrrrr" with a vibrating quality. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 05-01 - 07-29
Migration in: 01-01 - 05-10
Migration out: 07-20 - 12-31
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=42-49 cm, wingspan=72-82 cm, weight=650-1200 g
Habitats: River and lake
Details

Tufted duck / Reiherente (Aythya fuligula)
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Reiherenten am Klingnauerstausee, zwei Weibchen, zwei Männchen. 2022-02-05 14:39:46 Klingnauer Stausee (man-made lake)
First observed in Iceland on 2015-06-05.

Description

General: Schwarz-weiss mit Muster auf Rücken/Flügel, gelbe Augen, blau-grauer Schnabel mit schwarzer Spitze
General: On a lake in wintertime.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast um 1900 in Deutschland eingewandert, seit 1930 offiziell Brutvogel
Geography: 'Die Reiherente ... zählt zu den so genannten Tauchenten und gilt als die häufigste Süßwassertauchente. Es handelt sich um eine verhältnismäßig kleine, kompakt gebaute Ente. Auffällig sind der verhältnismäßig kurze Schnabel und der auffällig runde Kopf. Die Männchen haben am Hinterkopf einen langen, herabhängenden Schopf. Das Weibchen weist eine kurze Holle auf. Die Reiherente ist in Mitteleuropa ein verbreiteter Brut- und Jahresvogel', und in der Schweiz ein Wintergast. [Link]
Vocalization: Male display sound: High pitched short whistling-like noises, "pjuu-uu", not very audible. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 05-10 - 08-09
Migration in: 01-01 - 05-10
Migration out: 07-10 - 12-31
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=40-47 cm, wingspan=67-73 cm, weight=500-1000 g
Habitats: River and lake
Details

Ferruginous duck / Moorente (Aythya nyroca)
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Moorente und Reiherente. 2021-03-07 12:08:04 Rapperswil
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-03-07.

Description

General: Woody brown (ferruginous means rust-red), black and white with a gray bill. Butt is white, but also a part of the belly not seen when it's in water. Tall head reminds me of a Kolbenente/Red-crested pochard, but is pure brown.
General: Deutschland: Brutvogel, seltener Zugvogel und Wintergast RL 1
Etymology: The scientific name is derived from Greek aithuia an unidentified seabird mentioned by authors including Hesychius and Aristotle, and nyrok, the Russian name for a duck. [Link]

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=38-42 cm, wingspan=63-67 cm, weight=450-700 g
Habitats: River and lake
Details

Common shelduck / Brandgans (Tadorna tadorna)
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Brandgans mal zwei. 2022-02-05 13:43:48 Klingnauer Stausee (man-made lake)
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2022-02-05.

Description

General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Vocalization: Male: Various whistling sounds. Often series of ricochet-like "piu" repeated with gradually rising and falling intensity. Also passerine-like "tzzrrrr". Female: different variants on deeper hoarse sounds like "ar-ar-ar-ar" sometimes with accented endings with rising pitch. [Link]

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=58-67 cm, wingspan=110-133 cm, weight=800-1450 g
Habitats: River and lake
Details

Ruddy shelduck / Rostgans (Tadorna ferruginea)
Profile Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Rostgans - MerlinBirdID konnte es nicht herausfinden aber Google und ich. 2024-08-24 18:21:39 Klingnauer Stausee (man-made lake)
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2024-05-20.

Description

General: Deutschland: etabliertes Neozoon, Brut-, Jahresvogel
Vocalization: Distinct voice and quite vocal. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=61-67 cm, wingspan=0 cm, weight=925-1600 g
Habitats: River and lake
Details

Mandarin duck / Mandarinente (Aix galericulata)
Profile Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Wikipedia: Mandarin duck Source: WIKIPEDIA 1200px-Pair_of_mandarin_ducks.jpg
🔍 Never observed (yet!)

Description

Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: etabliertes Neozoon, Brut-, Jahresvogel
Vocalization: Other sounds include a short and sharp, coot-like "ket", and a short "ack". [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-11 - 06-29
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=41-49 cm, wingspan=68-74 cm, weight=571-608 g
Habitats: River and lake
Details

Graylag goose / Graugans (Anser anser)
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Rote Fuesse und Schnabel koennten auch eine andere Gansart sein, aber die Streifen sind die vom Graugans. 2022-06-04 11:21:54 Kaltbrunner-Riet
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-02-26.

Description

General: Found on practically all Swiss lakes, especially north of the alps.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Appearance and identification: Grösste europäische Wildgans. [Link]
Vocalization: Various cackling and honking sounds "gaiiiaia-ga-ga". [Link]

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=75-90 cm, wingspan=147-180 cm, weight=2100-4300 g
Habitats: River and lake
Details

White-fronted goose / Blässgans (Anser albifrons)
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White-fronted goose closeup, on the way home from Laphroiag? 2023-08-11 13:38:38 Scotland
First observed in Scotland on 2023-08-11.

Description

Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast Bruten gehen auf entflogene Tiere zurück
Vocalization: Similar to Bean- and Greylag Goose, but higher pitched, more musical, often disyllabic and with a laughing quality. Far from as high pitched as Lesser White-fronted Goose. [Link]

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=65-78 cm, wingspan=130-165 cm, weight=1800-3100 g
Habitats: River and lake
Details

Mute swan / Höckerschwan (Cygnus olor)
Profile Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube

The crowd hanging out at the one island by La Sauge - mute swans, a carrion crow, cormorants, yellow-legged gulls, and two Eurasian curlews at the left. 2025-04-21 14:04:37 Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-02-12.

Description

Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
General: Common waterbird at Pfäffikersee, very common on Lake Zurich.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Etymology: Ein Schwanenweibchen, das Junge führt, lässt bei Annäherung eines fliegenden Fressfeindes mehrsilbige ächzende Laute hören, die lautmalerisch mit krrr-wip-wip, chh oder einem tiefen chorr umschrieben werden können. [Link]
Vocalization: Silent compared to other swans. A repertoire of snorting, grunting and hissing sound when interacting. No far carrying sounds. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=145-160 cm, wingspan=208-238 cm, weight=7000-14000 g
Habitats: River and lake
Details

Marbled teal / Schmalschnabelente (Marmaronetta angustirostris)
Profile Wikipedia Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Wikipedia: Marbled teal Source: WIKIPEDIA 1200px-Marmaronetta_angustirostris%2C_London_Wetland_Centre%2C_UK_-_Diliff.jpg
🔍 Never observed (yet!)

Description

General: The marbled duck, or marbled teal (Marmaronetta angustirostris) is a threatened, medium-sized species of duck from southern Europe, northern Africa, and western and central Asia.^[1] The scientific name, Marmaronetta angustirostris, comes from the Greek marmaros, marbled and netta, a duck, and Latin angustus, narrow or small and -rostris billed.^[2] [more]
Details

Great cormorant / Kormoran (Phalacrocorax carbo)

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Kormoran im Profil. 2024-05-22 17:14:35 Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-01-26.

Description

Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Seasonal Behavior: Lokaler Brutvogel, regelmässiger, häufiger Durchzügler und Wintergast.[Brutpaare am Zürichsee und Greifensee bei Mönchaltorf] [Link]
Vocalization: Mostly heard at breeding ground. Also deep, rattling and creaking sounds. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=80-100 cm, wingspan=130-160 cm, weight=1700-3000 g
Habitats: River and lake

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2021-05-19 07:39:23 Source: BirdNet 20210519_073923 birdnet 1559 - Great Cormorant - 2021-05-19 07:39:23 - Great Cormorant - Cudrefin.mp3 Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge (song)

Calls: Coarse, vibrating calls "hahahahaharo". [Link] No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC770245 - Great Cormorant call - Phalacrocorax carbo.

♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC770245 - Great Cormorant call - Phalacrocorax carbo.mp3 (call)


Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details

European shag / Krähenscharbe (Gulosus aristotelis)

Profile Wikipedia Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Krähenscharbe pasr oder European shag on boat tour at Chioggia. 2025-09-26 11:30:23 Chioggia
First observed in Chioggia on 2025-09-26.

Description

Appearance and identification: Der Bewohner von Meeresküsten ist eine zierliche Ausgabe des grossen Verwandten [der Kormoran]. Sein schnabel ist dünner und die Stirn steiler ansteigend. Der Kopf trägt einenn kleinen Schopf. [Link]
Details

Great egret / Silberreiher (Ardea alba)

Profile Wikipedia A-Z Animals Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Silberreiher in Deutschland, von WikiCommons Von Andreas Eichler, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=59954907 Source: OTHER Wikicommons 2016.10.30--Silberreiher.jpg
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-02-24.

Description

Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: Auf dem Heimweg von Schwanden haben wir bei Benken ganz weisse Reiher gesehen. Laut ornitho.ch waren sie Silberreiher.
General: Bei den meisten Quellen heisst es, sie sind in der Schweiz nur Durchzüger oder Wintergäste. Aber laut Balzari und Gygax, brüten auch einige Vögel am Lac Neuchatel seit 2013.
General: Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast
Vocalization: Silent outside breeding ground. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Migration in: 03-01 - 05-31
Migration out: 08-09 - 11-15
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=85-102 cm, wingspan=140-170 cm, weight=960-1030 g
Habitats: Wetland

Vocalisation

Calls: In colonies various harsh calls like a dry, and mechanical "kerrrrrrr", and a very nasal "geet" or "ga-geet ga-geet" are heard. [Link] 1: Partly an awkward quack: uck uck. Rattles. Deep-toned urrr. Higher-toned trill.
2: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC751146 - Great Egret - Ardea alba - call and flight call - Shanghai, China.

♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC751146 - Great Egret - Ardea alba - call and flight call - Shanghai, China.mp3 (flight call)


Call attributes: Call melody: non-musical, slow, Frequency: low (1-3 KHz),
Details

Grey heron / Graureiher (Ardea cinerea)

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Graureiher auf der Insel, Neeracherried. 2022-09-04 08:03:50 Neeracherried
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2019-11-22.

Description

General: Frequent visitor.
General: Normally in the fields looking for food, also seen flying over or standing in the Luppmen (brook).
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Vocalization: Quite vocal. At breeding ground a varied repertoire of harsh and clattering sounds. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 02-01 - 08-29
Migration in: 02-01 - 04-11
Migration out: 07-10 - 10-27
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=90-98 cm, wingspan=175-195 cm, weight=1020-2073 g
Habitats: Wetland

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2024-11-01 08:26:54 Source: BIRDWEATHER 20241101_082654-Birdweather-Gray_Heron call.mp3 Greater Fehraltorf (call)

Calls: Most common call a short, far reaching and extremely harsh, rasping sound. [Link] General: Mechanical-sounding sort-of-a-quack
Call: Quite vocal. Most common call a short, far reaching and extremely harsh, rasping sound. At breeding ground a varied repertoire of harsh and clattering sounds. [Link]
XC876171 - Grey Heron - Ardea cinerea - call - Manyeleti Game Reserve, South Africa.

♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC876171 - Grey Heron - Ardea cinerea - call - Manyeleti Game Reserve, South Africa.mp3 (call)


Call attributes: Call melody: non-musical, slow, Frequency: low (1-3 KHz), Special sounds: rasp.
Details

Western cattle egret / Kuhreiher (Ardea ibis)

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Cattle egret. 2025-02-19 16:04:27 Fuerteventura
First observed in Costa Rica on 2018-02-27.

Description

Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC794287 - Eastern Cattle Egret - Bubulcus coromandus - call - Hong Kong, China.mp3 (call)


1: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.

2: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC353848 - Western Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis - flight call - sevilla, andalucía, Spain.

♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC353848 - Western Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis - flight call - sevilla, andalucía, Spain.mp3 Spain (flight call)


Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details

Purple heron / Purpurreiher (Ardea purpurea)

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Purple heron, Phnom Krom. 2024-03-03 06:13:38 Phnom Krom
First observed in Phnom Krom on 2024-03-03.

Description

General: Deutschland: Brutvogel, seltener Zugvogel RL R
Vocalization: Quite similar to Grey Heron, but not so vocal. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-23 - 10-18
Breeding: 04-20 - 07-29
Migration in: 09-17 - 10-18
Migration out: 09-17 - 09-25
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=78-90 cm, wingspan=120-150 cm, weight=525-1218 g
Habitats: Wetland

Vocalisation

Calls: Pitch slightly higher and remains stable throughout the short call. Volume muffled and timbre drier. [Link] No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC878038 - Purple Heron - Ardea purpurea manilensis - flight call - Nonthaburi, Thailand.

♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC878038 - Purple Heron - Ardea purpurea manilensis - flight call - Nonthaburi, Thailand.mp3 Thailand (flight call)


Call attributes: flight call Frequency: ,
Details

Black-crowned night-heron / Nachtreiher (Nycticorax nycticorax)

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Nachtreiher in Camargue - the only bird I've been able to identify so far looking back on those old photos. 1991-07-15 12:41:47 Camargue
First observed in Camargue on 1991-07-15.

Description

Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: Brutvogel, seltener Zugvogel RL 1

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-23 - 09-28
Migration in: 09-07 - 09-14
Migration out: 09-07 - 09-28
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=58-65 cm, wingspan=105-112 cm, weight=500-800 g
Habitats: Wetland
Details

Little egret / Seidenreiher (Egretta garzetta)

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Seidenreiher. 2022-02-05 11:42:26 Klingnauer Stausee (man-made lake)
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2019-11-22.

Description

Appearance and identification: The little egret has yellow feet but dark gray legs and beak
Vocalization: Sometimes utters a dry, rasping "kerrr" when flushed, but is mostly silent away from breeding ground. In colonies a peculiar gurgling and vibrating sound is heard; "ghala-la-la-la". [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Migration in: 09-28 - 10-07
Migration out: 09-28 - 10-05
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=55-65 cm, wingspan=88-95 cm, weight=350-550 g
Habitats: Wetland

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC799679 - Little Egret - Egretta garzetta - call that sounds like its vomiting - Catalunya, Spain.mp3 Spain (call)


Sort of a quack, brighter and higher than grey heron, with a bit of wawa.

Call attributes: Call melody: non-musical, slow, Frequency: low (1-3 KHz),
Details

Great bittern / Rohrdommel (Botaurus stellaris)

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Rohrdommel - ausgestopft - von Silberweide Naturzentrum. 2021-10-30 13:24:28 Source: OTHER 20211030_132428-DSC_0583 Rohrdommel - ausgestopft - von Silberweide Naturzentrum. Vielen Dank, dass sie es draussen aufgestellt haben, damit ich ein schoeneres Foto habe machen koennen!.JPG Greifensee
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-10-30.

Description

General: The Eurasian bittern or great bittern (Botaurus stellaris) is a wading bird in the bittern subfamily (Botaurinae) of the heron family Ardeidae. There are two subspecies, the northern race (B. s. stellaris) breeding in parts of Europe and across the Palearctic, as well as on the northern coast of Africa, while the southern race (B. s. capensis) is endemic to parts of southern Africa. It is a secretive bird, seldom seen in the open as it prefers to skulk in reed beds and thick vegetation near water bodies. Its presence is apparent in the spring, when the booming call of the male during the breeding season can be heard. It feeds on fish, small mammals, fledgling birds, amphibians, crustaceans and insects. [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL 2
Etymology: [13] Most of these were onomatopoeic colloquial names for the bird; the call was described as "bumping"[14] or "booming". [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Migration in: 02-01 - 05-10
Migration out: 08-09 - 12-31
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=70-80 cm, wingspan=125-135 cm, weight=867-1940 g
Habitats: Wetland

Vocalisation

Calls: Flight call a deep croaking "graat". [Link] A little buzz/beep that sounds more like an appliance or app.
Call attributes: Call melody: non-musical, slow, Frequency: low (1-3 KHz),
Details

Little bittern (Botaurus minutus)

Profile Wikipedia Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Wikipedia: Little bittern Source: WIKIPEDIA 1200px-Zwergdommel.jpg
🔍 Never observed (yet!)

Description

General:
Details

Squacco heron / Rallenreiher (Ardeola ralloides)

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Wikipedia: Squacco heron Source: WIKIPEDIA 1200px-Crabier_chevelu.jpg
🔍 Never observed (yet!)

Description

General: The squacco heron (Ardeola ralloides) is a small heron, 44–47 cm (17–19 in) long, of which the body is 20–23 cm (7.9–9.1 in), with 80–92 cm (31–36 in) wingspan.^[2] It is of Old World origins, breeding in southern Europe and the Greater Middle East. [more]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-20 - 07-10
Migration in: 06-20 - 06-27
Migration out: 06-20 - 07-10
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Habitats: Wetland
Details

Great white pelican / Rosapelikan (Pelecanus onocrotalus)

Profile Wikipedia Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube

Wikipedia: Great white pelican Source: WIKIPEDIA 1200px-Great_white_pelican_%28Pelecanus_onocrotalus%29.jpg
🔍 Never observed (yet!)

Description

The great white pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) also known as the eastern white pelican, rosy pelican or white pelican is a bird in the pelican family. It breeds from southeastern Europe through Asia and Africa, in swamps and shallow lakes. [more]
Details

Northern gannet / Basstölpel (Morus bassanus)

Profile Wikipedia Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube

Wikipedia: Northern gannet Source: WIKIPEDIA 1200px-Morus_bassanus_adu.jpg
🔍 Never observed (yet!)

Description

Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL R
Vocalization: Heard mostly at breeding ground. Even, rhythmical series of harsh "harrr, harrr, harrr,". [Link]

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=87-100 cm, wingspan=165-180 cm, weight=2400-3600 g
Details

Glossy ibis / Brauner Sichler (Plegadis falcinellus)

Profile Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Sichler nach ornitho, Brauner Sichler nach Wikipedia oder Plegadis falcinellus, Neeracherried. 2022-09-04 07:11:46 Source: WIKIPEDIA 20220904_071146-DSC_0059 Sichler nach ornitho, Brauner Sichler nach Wikipedia oder Plegadis falcinellus, Neeracherried.JPG Neeracherried
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2022-09-04.

Description

Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.

Vocalization: Generally silent away from breeding ground. Dry, crow-like "garr garr", may be heard occasionally in flight. At breeding ground various guttural grunts, and piping, hissing sounds. [Link]

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=55-65 cm, wingspan=80-95 cm, weight=530-768 g
Details

Eurasian spoonbill / Löffler (Platalea leucorodia)

Profile Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Wikipedia: Eurasian spoonbill Source: WIKIPEDIA 1280px-Eurasian_Spoonbill-2.jpg
🔍 Never observed (yet!)

Description

General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL R
Vocalization: Mostly silent, and of little use for identification. Soft utterances can be heard when feeding, and when interacting at nest. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Seldom seen here
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=80-90 cm, wingspan=115-130 cm, weight=1130-1960 g
Details

Northern bald ibis / Waldrapp (Geronticus eremita)

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Wikipedia: Northern bald ibis Source: WIKIPEDIA 1200px-Hermit_Ibis_in_Vienna_Zoo_on_2013-05-14.png
🔍 Never observed (yet!)

Description

General: Die offizelle Website des europäischen Waldrapp Auswilderungsproject ist . [Link]
Deutschland: ehemaliger Brut- und Zugvogel RL 0
Where to find it: Dieser Vogel brütet zum ersten Mal seit 400 Jahren in der Schweiz. Auf einem Fenstersims im Industriegebiet Rümlang nistet seit Ende April ein Waldrapp-Paar. Vielleicht der Grundstein einer neuen Kolonie? [Tages Anzeiger Artikel, 16.06.2023]
Vocalization: Mostly silent. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Migration in: 05-01 - 09-17
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=70-80 cm, wingspan=125-135 cm, weight=1080-1230 g
Details

Sacred ibis / Heiliger Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus)

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Wikipedia: Sacred ibis Source: WIKIPEDIA 1200px-Sacred_ibis_%28Threskiornis_aethiopicus%29.jpg
🔍 Never observed (yet!)

Description

Details

Long-tailed tit / Schwanzmeise (Aegithalos caudatus)
Profile Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Herzige Schwanzmeise. 2025-01-10 14:59:26 Fehraltorf
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2020-04-13.

Description

General: Quite surprised to identify this bird at the Hungerseeli, but have since realized they can be found here in the woods and in the reeds. They're small birds that look bigger because they fluff up their feathers and have a very long tail, which is just what I saw when I first sighted a pair June 3, 2020 at the Hungerseeli.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Appearance and identification: The subspecies europaeus occurs in Switzerland; it has a broad dark stripe over each eye, whereas the nominate caudatus has a pure white head. 'The long-tailed tit was first classified as a true tit of the Parus group. Parus has since been split from the Aegithalidae.' [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 03-23 - 06-29
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=14 cm, wingspan=16-19 cm, weight=7-10 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: General: Meistens hört man das Pfief...chk..chk..Pfief von den Rufen, siehe dort.
Song: Nabu: Der Gesang ist ein feines Trillern und selten zu hören (someone at XenoCanto compares it to a blue tit trill). [Link]
Song: Song: high tsee-tsee; funny downhill trill
Song: Song: Rapid, continuous, randomly composed sequence of bubbling,chirping sounds. [Link] Song attributes: Mnemnoic: Diddly doot-doot-doot-doot Melody: stereotype melodic (hhmll), slow, Frequency: high (3-9 KHz)
♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC572437 - Long-tailed Tit - Aegithalos caudatus - song.mp3 (song)


Calls: Call: quite short, chirping, twittering "tzzirrret tzirrrret". Often starting at high pitch and rapidly falling, or just flat. Also a thin, slightly falling "zi zi ziii". [Link] 1: Die fast ständig geäusserten, hohen Rufe verraten die kleinen, rastlosen Turner im Gezweig meist schon, bevor sie zu sehen sind. [Link]
Flight call from XenoCanto

♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC517804 Long-tailed tit flight call.mp3 (flight call)


2: A swoop with a trill at the end

♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC871720 - Long-tailed Tit call with swoop and trill - Aegithalos caudatus.mp3 (call)


Call attributes: contact call Call melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: 7-9 KHz,
Details

Cetti's warbler / Seidensänger (Cettia cetti)
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Wikipedia: Cetti's warbler Source: WIKIPEDIA 1200px-37-090505-cettis-warbler-at-Kalloni-east-river.jpg
First observed in Mallorca on 2022-04-12.

Description

General: Cetti's warbler /ˈtʃɛti/ (Cettia cetti) is a small, brown bush-warbler which breeds in southern and central Europe, northwest Africa and the east Palearctic as far as Afghanistan and northwest Pakistan. The sexes are alike. The bird is named after the 18th century Italian zoologist, Francesco Cetti. This species is very difficult to see because of its skulking habits.^[2] [more]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-20 - 08-09
Migration in: 03-12 - 05-01
Migration out: 08-18 - 11-15
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=13 cm, wingspan=15-19 cm, weight=9-17 g

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song: Song diagnostic, and readily given throughout the year. Phrases last from 2 - 5 seconds, consisting of a few loud, clear and rapid glissandi, given in approximately same register. E.g. "cetti cetti cetti", usually with a few introductory notes, and some variation to the phrase. Overall a very explosive, and with a staccato rhythm. [Link] Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2022-04-12 14:07:40 Source: BirdNet 20220412_140740 birdnet - Seidensänger - Seidensänger - Muro.mp3 (song)

Details

Eurasian reed warbler / Teichrohrsänger (Acrocephalus scirpaceus)
Profile Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Teichrohrsänger. 2024-05-20 08:58:41 Klingnauer Stausee (man-made lake)
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2020-04-27.

Description

General: 2-5 repetitions of each sound. Is the tone a bit lower than the other reed warblers?
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-11 - 10-18
Breeding: 05-10 - 08-18
Migration in: 04-11 - 05-31
Migration out: 07-29 - 10-18
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=13 cm, wingspan=17-21 cm, weight=10-16 g
Habitats: Wetland

Vocalisation

Song: Weird, squeaky, urgent. Slower than Sumpfrohrsaenger.
Song: Gleichmässiges Tempo! Man kann den Takt schlagen dazu.(Metronomsänger) Oft 2-3x wiederholte kurze Motive. Viele schnarrende Töne. [Link]
By far easiest to identify by song: Characteristic, almost metric and even rhythm, very different from Sedge Warbler. Squeaky timbre with many, almost bizarre, harmonics. Phrases generally repeated 2-3 times. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: sings 30 seconds or longer, fast, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz) Special sounds: weird
♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC653035 - Eurasian Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus scirpaceus - song.mp3 (song)


Details

Great reed warbler / Drosselrohrsänger (Acrocephalus arundinaceus)
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Drosselrohrsänger, Leukerfeld. 2022-05-21 10:39:42 Leuk
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2020-05-20.

Description

General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel seit 2016 nicht mehr auf der Vorwarnliste
Personal notes: Zuerst in Bolle Magadino gesehen und gehört.
Appearance and identification: 50% grösser als der ähnlich aussehende Teichrohrsänger
Behavior: In der Sonntagszeitung von 23. Mai 2021 wurde über neue Erkenntnisse zum Zug von Drosselrohrsängern geschrieben. Durch neue, leichte Messgeräte konnte man sehen, dass die Vögel in der Nacht auf 2 km Höhe fliegen, beim Sonnenaufgang über eine Stunde hoch bis 5.5 km fliegen. Da sie das Mittlemeer und die Saharawüste überfliegen, wo sie nicht landen können, fliegen sie bis 34 Stunden non-stop. Das Fliegen erzeugt viel Körperwärme und die Höhe hilft ihnen abzukühlen. [(Abo erforderlich)]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-20 - 09-28
Breeding: 05-10 - 08-18
Migration in: 04-20 - 05-31
Migration out: 07-20 - 09-28
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=19-20 cm, wingspan=24-29 cm, weight=29-36 g
Habitats: Wetland

Vocalisation

Song: General: Sounds to me like croak cheep cheep! Listening on YouTube videos, you'd call it percussion rather than song!
Song: In Vergleich zu Teichrohrsänger langsamer und lauter. [Link]
Song: Gesang ähnlich Teichrohrsänger, aber viel lauter, Tonhöhenunterschiede 2-3 Oktaven. Karre-Kit-Sänger.. Sehr taktmässig. [Link]
Song similar to Reed Warbler in timbre, but much deeper and slower. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: sings 30 seconds or longer, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz) Special sounds: rasp
♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC661392 - Great Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus arundinaceus - song.mp3 (song)


Details

Sedge warbler / Schilfrohrsänger (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)
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Schilfrohrsänger. 2022-06-04 11:48:08 Kaltbrunner-Riet
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2020-05-20.

Description

General: Brütet hier nicht, darum eher selten, Durchzügler.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel seit 2016 nicht mehr auf der Vorwarnliste

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-23 - 10-27
Breeding: 05-01 - 07-29
Migration in: 03-23 - 05-31
Migration out: 07-10 - 10-27
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=13 cm, wingspan=17-21 cm, weight=9-15 g
Habitats: Wetland

Vocalisation

Song: Constant stream of equally spaced sounds. vogelwarte.ch has a sample that churrs and trills, similar rhythm to reed warbler / Teichrohrsänger, so maybe that's what it was. Listening on YouTube videos, you'd call it percussion rather than song!
Song: Gesang sehr ähnlich dem Teichrohrsänger. Aber nicht so im Takt. Bevorzugte Tongebilde werden mehrmals wiederholt. Des öftern Singflug über dem Schilf. [Link]
Song vigorous and varied. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: sings 30 seconds or longer, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz) Special sounds: mimicry
♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC661577 - Sedge Warbler - Acrocephalus schoenobaenus - song.mp3 (song)


Details

Paddyfield warbler / Feldrohrsänger (Acrocephalus agricola)
Profile Wikipedia Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Wikipedia: Paddyfield warbler Source: WIKIPEDIA Paddyfield_Warbler_%28Acrocephalus_agricola%29_in_Kolkata_Im_IMG_0496.jpg
🔍 Never observed (yet!)

Description

General: Rare winter visitor
Details

Moustached warbler / Mariskensänger (Acrocephalus melanopogon)
Profile Wikipedia Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Wikipedia: Moustached warbler Source: WIKIPEDIA 1200px-Acrocephalus_melanopogon_ad03_CB.jpg
🔍 Never observed (yet!)

Description

General: The moustached warbler (Acrocephalus melanopogon) is an Old World warbler in the genus Acrocephalus. It breeds in southern Europe and southern temperate Asia with a few in north-west Africa. It is partially migratory. South west European birds are resident, south east European birds winter in the Mediterranean breeding range, and the Asiatic race migrates to Arabia, India and Pakistan. [more]

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=12-13 cm, wingspan=15-16 cm, weight=10-14 g
Details

Icterine warbler / Gelbspötter (Hippolais icterina)
Profile Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Wikipedia: Icterine warbler Source: WIKIPEDIA 1200px-Hippolais_icterina2.jpg
🔍 Never observed (yet!)

Description

Looking for it in Kaltbrunnenriet - didn't find it in June 2022.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel
Etymology: Ihren Namen [Spötter] tragen sie, weil sie in ihren Gesang den anderer Vögel nachahmend aufnehmen („spotten“). [Link]
It referred to a small bird mentioned by Aristotle and others and may be onomatopoeic or derived from hupo,"under", and laas, "stone". [Link]
Appearance and identification: Yellow belly, brown back, very similar to melodious warbler. Sometimes has the punky ruffled head feathers.
Appearance and identification: Ebird: Distinctive features include longish, daggerlike bill, long primary projection in the wings, and square tail. Told from similar Melodious Warbler by usually conspicuous pale wing panel, longer wings, and marginally shorter bill. Usually difficult to see when singing except during song flights, when long wings are apparent. Found in tall forest with oaks and birch, mixed forest, gardens, and parks. [Link]
Geography: Es gibt nur 100-150 Paare in der Schweiz, darum steht es auf der Rote Liste CH as stark gefährdet - und ist sicher schwierig zu finden. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 05-01 - 09-15

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=13 cm, wingspan=20-24 cm, weight=10-15 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Vocalisation

Song: Short bits 4-8 notes, sometimes with a little pause, overall a greenfinch feel. Some whoops, some chucks like a great tit, some bits like a house sparrow, even a meow. BirdLife Schweiz says full of vigor, includes some mis-tones and creaky calls; eBird says Song is fast, loud, and melodious with lots of mimicry.Can sing low (2k) or high (10k)
Song: Sein lauter, lebhafter und variabler Gesang setzt sich aus flötenden, zwitschernden und nasalen Tönen sowie Imitationen anderer Vogelarten wie Drosseln, Meisen, Schwalben oder Pirol zusammen. [Scheint mir aus Segmente von ~2 Sekunden zu bestehen.] [Link]
Song very virtuous and varied. Most similar to Marsh Warbler, but timbre and attack harder and more powerful. Tempo varied with many pauses, but includes longer, and more flowing sequences than Marsh Warbler. Song frequently interrupted by characteristic, nasal, high-pitched squeaks unlike Marsh Warbler. Master of mimicry. Imitations are often repeated several times before changing to melodious motifs or more "noisy" phrases. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: improvised melodic, fast, Frequency: 2-10 KHz Special sounds: mimicry
Details

Melodious warbler / Orpheusspötter (Hippolais polyglotta)
Profile Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Wikipedia: Melodious warbler Source: WIKIPEDIA 1200px-Hippolais_polyglotta.jpg
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2022-06-04.

Description

General: Looking for it in Kaltbrunnenriet - didn't find it in June 2022.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel
Etymology: polyglotta is from Ancient Greek polus, "many", and glossa, "tongue" and means "harmonious". [Link]
It referred to a small bird mentioned by Aristotle and others and may be onomatopoeic or derived from hupo,"under", and laas, "stone". [Link]
Appearance and identification: Yellow belly, brown back, very similar to Icterine warbler.
Appearance and identification: Ebird: Compared to Icterine Warbler, wings are shorter and lack the pale panel. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-20 - 09-07
Breeding: 05-01 - 08-09
Migration in: 07-22 - 07-29
Migration out: 07-29 - 08-29
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Habitats: Agricultural

Vocalisation

Song: Repeats bits 6-9 times, makes pauses, but also sings like mad with a distorted chirpy voice. Sometimes sings a descending trill that could be a giveaway. Can sing low (2k) or fairly high (8k)
Song attributes: Melody: improvised melodic, very fast, Frequency: 2-8 KHz Special sounds: trill
♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC572815 - Melodious Warbler - Hippolais polyglotta - song recorded in the Netherlands .mp3 (song)


Details

Lesser whitethroat / Klappergrasmücke (Sylvia curruca)
Profile Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Wikipedia: Lesser whitethroat Source: WIKIPEDIA Sylvia_curruca_1_%28Martin_Mecnarowski%29.jpg
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2023-05-27.

Description

General: Wollte diese in Klettgau suchen 2023, bin darüber gestolpert bei Bad Vilbel, Deutschland.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel
Seasonal Behavior: Nach ihrer Ankunft im April oder Mai verrät sich diese rastlose und geschickt durch das Geäst hüpfende Grasmücke am ehesten durch ihren Gesang. Das eintönige Klappern ist weithin hörbar und hat ihr den deutschen Artnamen eingebracht. Das Männchen versucht, ein im Revier erscheinendes Weibchen durch Vorausfliegen zu einem Wahlnest zu locken. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-01 - 10-07
Breeding: 05-21 - 08-09
Migration in: 04-01 - 05-31
Migration out: 07-29 - 10-07
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=12-13 cm, wingspan=16-20 cm, weight=10-14 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Vocalisation

Song: Song typically consists of two parts. An indistinct chattering and warbling, subsong-like part similar to [common] Whitethroat, which is usually followed by a dry, fast and rattling trill. The trill carries much further than the chattering part. May be difficult to identify if trill is omitted. [Link]
Song: Klappernd. (Müllerchen) An Berglaubsänger erinnernd. Klappertöne (5-8) Aber oft mit leisem schwatzendem Vorgesang, der fehlen kann. Kann auch an Sumpfmeise erinnern, doch sind bei dieser die Klappertöne mehr von oben her angeschlagen. [Link]
Song typically consists of two parts. An indistinct chattering and warbling, subsong-like part similar to Whitethroat, which is usually followed by a dry, fast and rattling trill. The trill carries much further than the chattering part. May be difficult to identify if trill is omitted. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: 3-5 KHz Special sounds: trill
♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC652419 - Lesser Whitethroat - Sylvia curruca - song.mp3 (song)


Calls: „tze“ oder „tett“ [Link]
Warning call a hard "check" similar to Blackcap but slightly softer. [Link] BirdID says: Warning call a hard "check" similar to Blackcap but slightly softer

♫ Source: OTHER 575779 (call)

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 2-7 KHz, Special sounds: sputter/pebble-clatter.
Details

Black cap warbler / Mönchsgrasmücke (Sylvia atricapilla)
Profile Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Mönchsgrasmücke. 2024-05-16 12:18:58 Kaltbrunner-Riet
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2019-08-30.

Description

General: On a tree branch, but not usually on the treetop.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel
Etymology: Grayish bird with black cap (or brown in the case of females), for which reason the German name refers to them as monks. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-20 - 08-09
Migration in: 02-20 - 05-10
Migration out: 08-18 - 10-27
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=13 cm, wingspan=20-23 cm, weight=16-25 g
Habitats: Forest, Agricultural

Vocalisation

Song: They sometimes sing like a blackbird on speed - also non-stereotypic, seemingly improvised, in short bursts. Our local guy ends most of his songs with the same seven notes, which I find a good way to confirm the identification. In Ticino we often heard the 'Leiern' sound - the warblers would sing just the first 3 notes of a longer song, then stop. The order varied; high-medium-low I call 'Figaro' as in the opera, low-high-medium 'whiskey bar', as it sounded to me like the Kurt Weill lyrics, 'O-oh-show me-the-way to-the-next whis-ke-bar' - but the warbler usually stopped after 'way' or 'next' The British authors of The Sound Approach claim to hear 'a warblel and a whistle'.
Song: Mit schwätzendem Vorgesang, (kann auch kurz sein oder ganz fehlen) der dann in klare, kräftige, zum Ende hin in wehmütige Flötentöne übergeht (Überschlag) [Link]
Song pleasing, varied and loud. Sometimes very similar to Garden Warbler. A typical phrase starts with soft, staccato chattering and mimicry, which after a few seconds changes to a much louder, pure and resonant stream of notes for about 3-5 seconds. No fixed motif, but may end phrases with recurring notes. Often deviates from the characteristic type of song, and identification from song alone may be impossible. May sing first part of song for extended periods without ever reaching the characteristic ending. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: improvised melodic (hml), fast, Frequency: 2-5 KHz Special sounds: mimicry Singing season: 03-01 - 07-31 Dawn chorus start: 45 minutes before dawn.
♫ 2021-03-31 19:12:00 Source: BirdNet 20210331_191200 birdnet 1356 - Eurasian Blackcap hml - 2021-03-31 19:12:00 - Eurasian Blackcap - Lugano.mp3 Lugano (song)

♫ 2023-06-20 07:52:22 Source: Zoom H6/H2n Bolle di Magadino (song)

♫ 2024-05-15 05:27:28 Source: Zoom H6/H2n Luppmen (song)

Calls: „täck“ oft wiederholt [Link]
Alarm call a hard "check", similar to Lesser White-throat. Sometimes with an additional hoarse and nasal "cherrrr". [Link] 1: General: Sputtery/stoney, but may have other calls too.
Call: The Blackcap may generate a perplexing variety of territorial calls, though the typical contact call is a hard, tongue-clicking "teck teck" which has a scolding quality to it. It's not dissimilar to the 'pebble-clacking' call of the Stonechat. [Suffex Wildlife Trust]
XC546030 black cap warbler so-called tac and djii call.

♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC546030 black cap warbler so-called tac and djii call.mp3 (call)


2: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC548858-20200411 Eurasian Blackcap, alarm call part of advertising song, male, Flughafen Belpmoos, Bern, Switzerland.

♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC548858-20200411 Eurasian Blackcap, alarm call part of advertising song, male, Flughafen Belpmoos, Bern, Switzerland.mp3 Switzerland (alarm call)


Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: high (3-9 KHz), Special sounds: sputter/pebble-clatter.
Details

Garden warbler / Gartengrasmücke (Sylvia borin)
Profile Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Das muss ein Gartengrasmücke sein im Feld bei W-Wiher, noch nie so in Getreide gesehen, aber es klingt plausibel. 2024-06-27 18:57:05 Fehraltorf
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2020-04-27.

Description

General: Nondescript, shy.
General: Hidden in the branches. Does change trees though. 2024 saw one in a grain field by the Wildert Weiher
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel
Appearance and identification: Nabu: Das Hauptbestimmungsmerkmal dieser sehr unauffällig gefärbten Grasmücke ist, dass sie kein besonderes Merkmal besitzt.
Im gegensatz zu ihrem Namen kommt die Gartengrasmücke eher seltener in Gärten vor, häufiger ist sie in Hecken und grossen Büschen in waldrandlage anzutreffen, wo sie recht versteckt lebt. [Aus der NABU Android-App]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-15 - 10-05
Breeding: 04-30 - 08-10
Migration in: 04-15 - 05-30
Migration out: 08-01 - 10-05
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=14 cm, wingspan=20-24 cm, weight=16-22 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: Song: Hard to distinguish from Mönchsgrasmücke/black cap, but they sing much longer and don't end with a typical short melody like the black caps. [Link]
'minutenlang anhaltenden, plaudernden und abwechslungsreichen Gesang' [Link]
Song: Sprudelnd, orgelnd, die längsten Strophen aller hiesigen Grasmücken. Mit vielen reinen, volltönenden Tönen. Ohne Überschlag der Mönchsgrasmücke. [Link]
Song: a full bodied, flowing, melodious stream of notes, distinguished by its almost constant, warbled quality and lack of clear whistling notes (see Blackcap). Tempo is fairly even. Beware confusion possibility with occasional subsong of Blackcap that never reaches the whistling part! Call a nasal "che". [Link] Song attributes: Melody: improvised melodic (hm), fast, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz)
♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC728379 - Garden Warbler - Sylvia borin - song.mp3 (song)


Calls: Alarm call a hard "check", and a hoarse "tcherr". [Link] No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN
Garden warbler calls from bushes at Wildert.

♫ 2025-07-23 17:28:00 Wildert (call)

Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details

Sardinian warbler / Samtkopfgrasmücke (Curruca melanocephala)
Profile Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Sardinian warbler at Braco-Mesco by Levanto. 2024-05-31 07:58:51 Levanto
First observed in Mallorca on 2022-04-07.

Description

General: The Sardinian warbler (Curruca melanocephala) is a common and widespread typical warbler from the Mediterranean region. Like most Curruca species, it has distinct male and female plumages. The adult male has a grey back, whitish underparts, black head, white throat and red eyes. Plumages are somewhat variable even in the same locality, with the intensity of a reddish hue on upper- and/or underside varies from absent to (in some subspecies) pronounced. The female is mainly brown above and buff below, with a grey head. The Sardinian warbler's song is fast and rattling, and is very characteristic of the Mediterranean areas where this bird breeds. [more]

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2025-06-07 13:02:00 Stromboli (call)

No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN

Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details

Marmora's warbler (Curruca sarda)
Profile Wikipedia Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Wikipedia: Marmora's warbler Source: WIKIPEDIA Marmora%27s_Warbler_-_Sardinia_-_Italy_S4E1036.jpg
🔍 Never observed (yet!)

Description

Marmora's warbler (Curruca sarda) is a typical warbler, genus Sylvia. The specific sarda is a Latin feminine form for a person from Sardinia.^[2] [more]
Details

Spectacled warbler / Brillengrasmücke (Curruca conspicillata)
Profile Wikipedia Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Wikipedia: Spectacled warbler Source: WIKIPEDIA Sylvia_conspicillata_Gran_Canaria.jpg
🔍 Never observed (yet!)

Description

The spectacled warbler (Curruca conspicillata) is a species in the typical warbler genus, Curruca. The specific conspicillata is from Latin conspicillum, a place to look from, equivalent to "spectacled".^[2] [more]
Details

Moltoni's warbler (Curruca subalpina)
Profile Wikipedia Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Wikipedia: Moltoni's warbler Source: WIKIPEDIA Moltoni%27s_Warbler_-_Castelletto_Merli_-_Italy_%2842866907560%29.jpg
🔍 Never observed (yet!)

Description

Moltoni's warbler (Curruca subalpina) is a small bird species of the family Sylviidae. It is named after its describer Edgardo Moltoni. [more]
Details

Goldcrest / Wintergoldhähnchen (Regulus regulus)
Profile Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Wintergoldhähnchen im Hönggerwald. 2024-04-14 08:24:44
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2020-07-13.

Description

I'd often heard the high-pitched song and call in the woods by Fehraltorf but had doubts I'd ever see one (they're the smallest bird in Switzerland, fairly shy, and I seemed to only hear them in very tall trees). I didn't see one until hiking at the Pragelpass. And finally in October 2020, I saw them near Rumlikon and at the Pfaeffikersee, where I took the new profile picture. In December I saw five of them cruise through the bushes beside our house, hopping from branch to branch, snapping up insects - something I'd never have believe in spring 2020.
General: Said to be the smallest bird in Switzerland, but it's basically the same size as the Firecrest.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-01 - 08-18
Migration in: 03-01 - 05-01
Migration out: 08-18 - 11-06
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=9 cm, wingspan=13-15 cm, weight=4-7 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: Vogelwarte.ch says high-pitched song that gently rises and falls. This song starts out with a repeated note. [Link]
Song: Kurze Reihe von sehr hohen, leisen Tönen in auf-absteigender Tonhöhe, an das „W“-im Namen erinnernd. [Link]
Song: a very high-pitched, undulating series of arpeggiated notes moving down and up again, repeated 4-5 times ending with a marked "conclusion" (like "trying to start a tiny motor and failing"). Timbre of song similar to contact call. [Link] Song attributes: Mnemnoic: W=Winter=v.a. runter, dann wieder hoch, plus melodischer Schluss Melody: stereotype melodic, slow, Frequency: 6-8 KHz
Calls: 'sisisi' [Link]
Contact call a very high pitched "zit zit zit", only similar to Firecrest and treecreepers. Treecreepers usually calls with longer "zzzziiiiit" repeated at regular intervals, while Goldcrest calls in phrases with two to four calls in series in an uneven rhythm. Firecrest contact calls lower pitched than Goldcrest, and in a softer tone (but quite similar). [Link] No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN
Wintergoldhähnchen whoop Ruf im Biotop.

♫ 2024-09-12 16:40:00 Greater Fehraltorf (call)

Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details

Common firecrest / Sommergoldhähnchen (Regulus ignicapilla)
Profile Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Wikipedia Sommergoldhähnchen (Regulus ignicapilla) weiblich. Source: WIKIPEDIA Wikipedia Sommergoldhaehnchen_(Regulus_ignicapilla) weiblich.jpg
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2020-05-09.

Description

General: Together with the goldcrest, the smallest bird in Switzerland.
General: Although they migrate, a few are reported in winter together with the goldcrest, which stays at home
General: I heard one in the woods by Neschwil. Unfortunately, they prefer perches in the tops of trees, which were 30m or more tall - little chance of seeing one, even if we had lingered.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel
Vocalization: A slow crescendo of short "tze" sounds in a phrase rising slightly in pitch, without the repeated arpeggiated movements of goldcrest. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-20 - 07-20
Migration in: 03-01 - 05-01
Migration out: 08-09 - 11-06
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=9 cm, wingspan=13-16 cm, weight=4-6 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: Very high rhythmic repetition of about 3 seconds
Song: Wie [beim Wintergoldhähnchen] aber auf gleicher Tonhöhe bleibend. [Link]
Song: Similar in timbre to Goldcrest, but much more monotonous. [Link] Song attributes: Mnemnoic: Noten vom 'Sommer' steigen wie die Temperaturen Melody: simple rhythmic, fast, Frequency: 6-8 KHz
Calls: „sisisi“ [Link]
Call: a thin "tsi tsi tsi" similar to Goldcrest, but not so sharp. [Link] No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC933773 - Common Firecrest call - Regulus ignicapilla.

♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC933773 - Common Firecrest call - Regulus ignicapilla.mp3 (call)


Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details

Barn swallow / Rauchschwalbe (Hirundo rustica)
Profile Wikipedia A-Z Animals Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Rauchschwalbe braucht eine Coiffeuse. 2025-08-03 16:54:17 Fehraltorf
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2020-04-16.

Description

Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL V
Good to know: Die langen Schwanzfedern vom Rauchschwalbe und anderen geben auch dem Schmetterling Schwalbenschwanz seine deutschen Namen.
Etymology: In früheren Jahrhunderten flogen sie vielfach durch die Öffnungen im Giebel ein und aus, durch die auch der Rauch des Herdfeuers abzog. So erhielten sie den Namen Rauchschwalben. [Link]
Appearance and identification: Rauchschwalbes Bauch ist etwas braun rot, nicht weiss wie der von der Mehlschwalbe - was wahrscheinlich Quelle der zwei Namen ist. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-01 - 10-27
Breeding: 04-20 - 09-17
Migration in: 03-01 - 05-31
Migration out: 08-18 - 10-27
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=17-19 cm, wingspan=32-34 cm, weight=16-22 g
Habitats: Settlement

Similar species

Looks similar to: Common house martin.

Vocalisation

Song: General: Squeaky with occasional buzzes, usually heard in flock.
Song: Kann melodisch sein wenn einzeln gehört statt viele zusammen. [Link]
Song: Characteristic calls and song. Song a sparkling, squeaky energetic improvisation with interspersed contact calls, often with diagnostic ending; an electric and drawn-out "su-eerrrrrrrrrrrrrrr". [Link] Song attributes: Melody: stereotype melodic, fast, Frequency: 2-6 KHz
Calls: Contact call a short and sharp "weet" or "kee-weet". [Link]
XC898815 - Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica - flight call.

♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC898815 - Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica - flight call.mp3 (flight call)


Call attributes: flight call Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz),
Details

European red-rumped swallow (Cecropis rufula)
Profile Wikipedia Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube

Wikipedia: European red-rumped swallow Source: WIKIPEDIA RED-RUMPED_SWALLOW_Hirundo_daurica_rufula_%288467592335%29.jpg
🔍 Never observed (yet!)

Description

General:
Details

Bank swallow / Uferschwalbe (Riparia riparia)
Profile Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Bank swallow. 2024-01-26 15:58:58 Thailand
First observed in Thailand on 2024-01-26.

Description

Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: The sand martin (Riparia riparia) or European sand martin, bank swallow, and collared sand martin in India, is a migratory passerine bird in the swallow family. It has a wide range in summer, embracing practically the whole of Europe and the Mediterranean countries and across the Palearctic to the Pacific Ocean. It is a Holarctic species also found in North America. It winters in eastern and southern Africa, South America, and the Indian Subcontinent. [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL V

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-23 - 10-18
Breeding: 05-01 - 09-07
Migration in: 03-23 - 06-09
Migration out: 07-10 - 10-18
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=12 cm, wingspan=26-29 cm, weight=11-16 g
Habitats: Wetland

Vocalisation

Song: Fast raspy one-noter.
Song: Song a primitive improvisation on the contact call. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: non-musical, fast, Frequency: 1-7 KHz Special sounds: rasp
♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC344092 - Sand Martin - Riparia riparia - raspy song but note, does not sing often.mp3 (song)


Calls: Contact call a mono- or disyllabic "trrrrt". Similar to House Martin but more raucous and less crisp, with less rolling r's, and with stable pitch throughout. Alarm call similar to House Martin; a sharp plaintive "tseep", but somewhat purer and more drawn. [Link] No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC659747 - Sand Martin - Riparia riparia - noisy call recorded in Sweden.

♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC659747 - Sand Martin - Riparia riparia - noisy call recorded in Sweden.mp3 (call)


Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details

Eurasian crag-martin / Felsenschwalbe (Ptyonoprogne rupestris)
Profile Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube

6 von einige weitere Felsenschwalben in Verona. 2025-09-22 13:04:32 Source: OTHER 20250922_130432 6 von einige weitere Felsenschwalben in Verona.jpg Verona
First observed in Verona on 2025-09-22.

Description

General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL R
Vocalization: Most heard is a House Martin-like, but less rolling, "prit" or "check". Other contact sounds include a plaintive "peeuuu". [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 05-10 - 09-28
Migration in: 02-10 - 04-20
Migration out: 08-29 - 11-06
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=14 cm, wingspan=32-34 cm, weight=17-30 g
Habitats: Mountain
Details

Common house martin / Mehlschwalbe (Delichon urbicum)
Profile Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

MerlinBirdID meint Mehlschwalbe. 2022-05-21 10:11:56 Leuk
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2020-08-10.

Description

General: This one is a swallow in German but a martin in English.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL V
Etymology: Der Kontaktlaut ist ein hartes trieer, gelegentlich lautmalerisch auch als chirrp umschrieben. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-23 - 10-27
Breeding: 05-21 - 09-28
Migration in: 03-23 - 06-09
Migration out: 08-18 - 10-27
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=12 cm, wingspan=26-29 cm, weight=15-23 g
Habitats: Settlement

Similar species

Looks similar to: Barn swallow.

Vocalisation

Song: Song: Mehlschwalbe klingt weniger melodisch als der Rauchschwalbe [Link]
Merry improv of chirping, contact call [Link]
Song: Song a merry improvisation of chirping, contact call-like sounds (sometimes recalling a budgerigar). [Link] Song attributes: Melody: stereotype melodic, fast, Frequency: 2-7 KHz
♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC730813 - Common House Martin - Delichon urbicum - song and call according to recordist Fernando Aranguren Jiménez, recorded in Spain.mp3 Spain (song)


Calls: Contact call a rolling "krreet". Similar to Sand Martin but noticeably dryer, more rolling and less raucous. Typically varies the pitch of the call more. Warning call a sharp and plaintive "tsreee". [Link] 1: Heard from in the air, loud, with lots of chirps!
2:
XC742347 - Common House Martin - Delichon urbicum - flight call, recorded in Spain.

♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC742347 - Common House Martin - Delichon urbicum - flight call, recorded in Spain.mp3 Spain (flight call)

Birdnet 864 flight call - Common house martin.

♫ 2020-08-10 14:45:28 Source: BirdNet 20200810_144528 birdnet 864 flight call - Common house martin.mp3 Luppmen (flight call)

Call attributes: Call melody: simple rhythmic, fast, Frequency: 4-7 KHz,
Details

Eurasian skylark / Feldlerche (Alauda arvensis)
Profile Wikipedia eBird Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Feldlerche auf einer Sonnenblume, Neunkirch. 2023-07-16 10:19:38 Neunkirch, Schaffhausen
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2022-06-25.

Description

Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America (introduced), Africa, Australia.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL 3
Good to know: Aus dem Kurzjahresbericht BirdLife Schweiz 2022: Die Feldlerche, Vogel des Jahres 2022..., ist eihne dieser bredrohten Arten, welche durch die Industrialisierung der Landwirtschaft ausgerottet wird. [Link]
Appearance and identification: Somewhat like a house sparrow but 18-19 cm long, not 14-15, kleiner als Star. Ruffled head feathers. NABU says streaks on breast contrast with white belly. [Link]
Geography: Introduced population in North America is gradually declining. [Link]
Habitat: Stark gefährdet durch Verlust von geeignetem Lebensraum. Eine Massnahme ist die Erstellung von Lerchenfenstern auf den Feldern - eine kleine Fläche mitten im Feld, die nicht bepflanzt oder gemäht wird. So was sieht man bei uns, z.B. zwischen Freudwil und Gutenswil, wobei ich nicht genau weiss, ob Feldlerchen das Ziel davon sind. Die Infos habe ich vom FOK Kurs 2021-2022 von Christina Ebneter.

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-11 - 08-18
Migration in: 02-01 - 04-01
Migration out: 09-17 - 11-15
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=18-19 cm, wingspan=30-36 cm, weight=26-50 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Vocalisation

Song: Fast chirpy improvization without a break, not very high, reminds me of a nightingale or a Eurasian reed warbler/Teichrohrsänger with the exact rhythm, but most likely sung in a cornfield. Or a Singdrossel that repeats its elements longer that that guy. Repeats elements 1-8 times. Sometimes buzzy/trilly. Can go on for minutes at a time. Ich habe es auch mit einem Amsel verwechselt, da er lang und melodisch, fast wie Amsel aber hört nicht auf.
Song: Song a pleasing energetic stream of chirping, merry trills, interspersed with mimicry. Trills quite resonant with fairly full tone. Song usually given in flight high in the air. Less characteristic, shorter, weaker and more varied song when given from ground. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: sings 30 seconds or longer, slow, Frequency: 2-6 KHz Special sounds: mimicry
♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC685846 - Eurasian Skylark - Alauda arvensis - song, recorded in France.mp3 (song)


Calls: Most typical flight call a short trilling "chirrup", with the end note noticeably lower pitched than the start. Also several other more cryptic calls. [Link] This quickly-written call archetype may need review/enhancement.

♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC772869 - Eurasian Skylark - Alauda arvensis - flight call.mp3 (flight call)

XC772869 - Eurasian Skylark - Alauda arvensis - flight call.

♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC772869 - Eurasian Skylark - Alauda arvensis - flight call.mp3 (flight call)

XC946652 - Eurasian Skylark one-note swooping flight call - Alauda arvensis.

♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC946652 - Eurasian Skylark one-note swooping flight call - Alauda arvensis.mp3 (flight call)


Call attributes: flight call Frequency: ,
Details

Crested lark / Haubenlerche (Galerida cristata)
Profile Wikipedia Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Wikipedia: Crested lark Source: WIKIPEDIA 1200px-Crested_lark_singing.jpg
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2025-05-22.

Description

General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel RL 1

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=17 cm, wingspan=29-38 cm, weight=37-55 g

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song: Song: a mix of long whistling, fluting sounds, trills and mimicry. Full song quite similar to Thekla Lark. Rudiments of song are often heard and includes more melancholic whistling than Thekla. [Link] Song attributes: Frequency: Special sounds: mimicry
♫ 2025-07-13 12:13:00 Switzerland (song)

Details

Greater short-toed lark / Kurzzehenlerche (Calandrella brachydactyla)
Profile Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube

Wikipedia: Greater short-toed lark Source: WIKIPEDIA Greater_short-toed_lark_%28Calandrella_brachydactyla%29_Photograph_by_Shantanu_Kuveskar.jpg
🔍 Never observed (yet!)

Description

General: The greater short-toed lark (Calandrella brachydactyla) is a small passerine bird. The current scientific name is from Ancient Greek. The genus name, Calandrella, is a diminutive of kalandros, the calandra lark, and brachydactila is from brakhus, "short", and daktulos, "toe".^[2] [more]

Seasonal behavior

Seldom seen here
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=13-14 cm, wingspan=25-30 cm, weight=20-26 g
Details

Wood lark / Heidelerche (Lullula arborea)
Profile Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Wikipedia: Wood lark Source: WIKIPEDIA Lullula_arborea.jpg
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2024-04-06.

Description

Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL V
Etymology: [4] The current genus name is onomatopoeic from French “Lulu”, the name given to the bird by de Buffon. [Link]
, A songbird, the woodlark has a melodious, warbling song often described onomatopoeically as a lu-lu-lu-[11] or, more precisely, as a "serial lū-lū-lū-lū-lū-", toolooeet toolooeet toolooeet. [Link]
Appearance and identification: Sieht aus wie ein braun-weisser Drossel mit heller Überaugenstreife/Maske. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 03-23 - 07-29
Migration in: 02-10 - 04-11
Migration out: 09-17 - 11-15
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=15 cm, wingspan=27-30 cm, weight=25-35 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Vocalisation

Song: General: Slow for a lark? Fast to me.
Song: Fallend dadui dadui. Or figaro figaro - picture Heidi in an opera. Wenig Variation. [Link]
Der flötende Gesang der Heidelerche gehört zu den schönsten der Vogelwelt und ist tagsüber wie auch nachts zu hören. [Link]
Song: Song: Distinct and quite slow for a lark. Consists mainly of varied, disyllabic elements, or single syllables repeated in descending, accelerated phrases. Starting soft and hesitantly, then gaining in strength and speed. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: two notes, fast, Frequency: 3-5 KHz
♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC769994 - Woodlark - Lullula arborea - 2-note song recorded in the Netherlands.mp3 (song)


No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC756161 - Woodlark - Lullula arborea - flight call recorded in Spain.

♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC756161 - Woodlark - Lullula arborea - flight call recorded in Spain.mp3 Spain (flight call)


Call attributes: flight call Frequency: ,
Details

Calandra lark / Kalanderlerche (Melanocorypha calandra)
Profile Wikipedia Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Wikipedia: Calandra lark Source: WIKIPEDIA Bere%C5%9Fe.jpg
🔍 Never observed (yet!)

Description

General: The calandra lark (Melanocorypha calandra) or European calandra-lark breeds in warm temperate countries around the Mediterranean and eastwards through Turkey into northern Iran and southern Russia. It is replaced further east by its relative, the bimaculated lark. [more]

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=18-19 cm, wingspan=34-42 cm, weight=44-73 g
Details

Zitting cisticola / Zistensänger (Cisticola juncidis)
Profile Wikipedia Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Zistensaenger singt beim Fliegen auf dem Land bei Es Trenc. 2022-04-08 14:36:48
First observed in Mallorca on 2022-04-08.

Description

The zitting cisticola or streaked fantail warbler (Cisticola juncidis) is a widely distributed Old World warbler whose breeding range includes southern Europe, Africa (outside the deserts and rainforest), and southern Asia down to northern Australia. A small bird found mainly in grasslands, it is best identified by its rufous rump; as well, it lacks any gold on the collar and the brownish tail is tipped with white. During the breeding season, males have a zigzagging flight display accompanied by regular "zitting" calls that have been likened to repeated snips of a scissor. They build their pouch nest suspended within a clump of grass. [more]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 05-01 - 09-28
Breeding: 05-01 - 08-29
Migration in: 05-01 - 09-28
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=10 cm, wingspan=12-14 cm, weight=8-12 g

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song: Male song a diagnostic, monosyllabic, high-pitched "cist", repeated in an even rhythm about once every second, while in bounding song-flight or perched. [Link] Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2022-04-08 14:43:27 Source: BirdNet 20220408_144327 birdnet - Zistensänger - Zistensänger.mp3 (song)

Details

Western bonelli's warbler / Berglaubsänger (Phylloscopus bonelli)
Profile Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Wikipedia Berglaubsänger Phylloscopus bonelli. Source: WIKIPEDIA Wikipedia Berglaubsaenger Phylloscopus_bonelli.jpg
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2020-06-08.

Description

General: Roman von Sury likes them, but notes that their habitat is increasingly disappearing in Switzerland.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-11 - 09-17
Breeding: 05-01 - 07-20
Migration in: 04-11 - 06-09
Migration out: 07-20 - 09-17
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: Single note repeated 6 or 8 times quickly in half a second
Song: Reihe(5-10) von gleichhohen Schlägen, ähnlich dem Schwirren der obigen Art [Waldlaubsänger], aber langsamer, einzelne Töne deutlich getrennt, etwas scheppernd. Kann mit Klappergrasmücke verwechselt werden) [Link] Song attributes: Melody: one note, fast, Frequency: 3-7 KHz
♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC720128 - Western Bonelli's Warbler - Phylloscopus bonelli - song, recorded in France.mp3 (song)


Details

Willow warbler / Fitis (Phylloscopus trochilus)
Profile Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Bei Wildert glaube ich dass das ein Fitis ist und kein Zilp-zalp aber MerlinBirdId war auch verwirrt und hat ZZ besser gefunden. 2026-05-12 17:25:20 Wildert
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2020-04-24.

Description

General: The willow warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) is a very common and widespread leaf warbler which breeds throughout northern and temperate Europe and the Palearctic, from Ireland east to the Anadyr River basin in eastern Siberia. It is strongly migratory, with almost all of the population wintering in Sub-Saharan Africa.^[2][3] [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-10 - 10-10
Breeding: 04-20 - 05-31
Migration in: 03-10 - 04-30
Migration out: 07-15 - 10-18
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=10-11 cm, wingspan=16-22 cm, weight=7-12 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: Song similar to common chaffinch but higher, faster, tendency to descend but with more ups and downs.
Song: Reihe v. Pfeiflauten (ca 12) etwas abfallend. Klingt ähnlich Buchfink, aber etwas traurig, melancholisch, wie in moll-Tonart. [Link]
By far most easily identified by it's call or song. Song: A 3-5 second, falling phrase of soft, rippling "svi-svi" sounds, starting high with some attack, and then falling in a mellow manner. The phrase lacks any conclusion, and diminishes both in strength and tempo. [Link] Song attributes: Mnemnoic: Buchfink diva Melody: stereotype melodic, fast, Frequency: high (3-9 KHz) Singing season: 04-01 - 06-30 Dawn chorus start: 22 minutes before dawn.
Calls: ähnlich oben, aber mehr zweisilbig [Link]
Contact/alarm call a soft, plaintive ascending "hoo-eet". Similar to Chiff-chaff, but first part more drawn, giving it a disyllabic feel. [Link] Whoop very similar to chiffchaff, etc. but starts at an even level, then ascends.
Call recorded in UK, sounds typical to me, and spiced up by a yellowhammer in the background and several other birds

♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC444002 - Willow Warbler - Phylloscopus trochilus trochilus - call in UK, with yellowhammer in background.mp3 (call)


Call attributes: contact call Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 2-4 KHz, Special sounds: whoop.
Details

Common chiffchaff / Zilpzalp (Phylloscopus collybita)
Profile Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Zilpzalp vorm Fanel-Plattform. 2024-05-22 17:46:23 Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2019-06-04.

Description

General: In the survey of 2008, there was only 1 Chiffchaff in Fehraltorf for every 7 blackbirds, and it was ranked 19th in the village. Yet in summer 2020 I heard them in nearly every recording I make, whether at home by the brook (Luppmen) or in the woods. I presume their population has exploded in the last 10 years.
General: I see them in middle branches, but not in particularly exposed places.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel
Etymology: Greenish-brown above and off-white below, it is named onomatopoeically for its simple chiff-chaff song. [Link]
[The common chiffchaff's English name is onomatopoeic, referring to the repetitive chiff-chaff song of the European subspecies. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-11 - 08-09
Migration in: 02-20 - 05-01
Migration out: 08-29 - 11-06
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=10-11 cm, wingspan=15-21 cm, weight=6-10 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: Seems to consist of 3 notes repeated randomly, occasionally just 2 notes. Though NABU.de says they stop singing at the end of July, I do hear their 3-note song occasionally in October, but just one or two repetitions.
Song: [Translated from German:] From the middle of August till the end of September the chiffchaff offers regular autumn song. [Link]
Lange Reihen (6-20) von „zilp-zalp“-Rufen, meist abwechselnd in Tonhöhe. (Als bemühe sich der Sänger vergeblich den ersten Ton wieder zu treffen , ohne jedoch weit zu verfehlen.) „Zins zahl, Zins zahl, zahl Zins, Zins Zins zahl“ („Zins“ etwas höher als „zahl“) [Link]
Song a very distinct: "chiff-chaff-chiff-chiff-chaff-chiff", in a regular clock-like rhythm. Each syllable at seemingly random pitch, but no large intervals tonally. Sometimes "get stuck" at one note. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: high (3-9 KHz) Singing season: 03-01 - 07-31 Dawn chorus start: 35 minutes before dawn.
Calls: Rufe :einsilbiges „hüid“, hinaufgezogen, wandelbar. [Link]
Contact/alarm call a soft, plaintive ascending "hooeet". Similar to W.Warbler, but shorter with a monosyllabic feel. [Link] Repeated rising note, not too loud
XC656913 - Common Chiffchaff - Phylloscopus collybita - call recorded in Belgium.

♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC656913 - Common Chiffchaff - Phylloscopus collybita - call recorded in Belgium.mp3 (contact call)


Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 2-4 KHz, Special sounds: whoop.
Details

Wood warbler / Waldlaubsänger (Phylloscopus sibilatrix)
Profile Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube

Wahrscheinlich Waldlaubsänger. 2022-05-22 09:52:22 Leuk
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2022-05-22.

Description

General: The wood warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix) is a common and widespread leaf warbler which breeds throughout northern and temperate Europe, and just into the extreme west of Asian Russia in the southern Ural Mountains. [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-11 - 09-17
Breeding: 05-01 - 07-10
Migration in: 04-11 - 05-31
Migration out: 07-20 - 09-17
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=12 cm, wingspan=19-24 cm, weight=8-12 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: Sid-sid-sid-sirrrr. 3 secs, then 5 secs pause. At bird-song.ch I hear a slow-fast one-noter, about 8 slow ones in 1.5 seconds, then a trill of 25 fast ones.
Song: kurze Reihe (4-10) v. Stakkatotönen, gefolgt von abfallendem Schwirrroller. (Tönt wie das Anlassen eines Velosolex) Während des Gesanges schwebender Schwirrflug. Dazu hört man eine Reihe angenehmer Pfeiflaute wie „djü“ [Link]
Song distinct. An accelerating series of sharp, metallic "swee-swee-swee-swee". Alternative (piping) song a series of 4-6 piping, plaintive and descending "pew - pew" calls. Resembles Willow Tit's song, but is softer with each note more evenly pitched. Contact call similar to individual syllables of piping song, but with heavier accent on the ending. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic (hl hl hl), fast, Frequency: 5-8 KHz Special sounds: trill
♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC727564 - Wood Warbler - Phylloscopus sibilatrix - song.mp3 (song)


Calls: „düü“ [Link]
Typically with a staccato beginning. Pitch drops as the speed increases and the syllables fuses into a continuous trill. Often described as the sound of a spinning coin coming to rest on a glass table. Some phrases may be given in an almost even tempo, and may recall Bonelli's Warbler. [Link] No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN_VIA_ZOOM
Kurzer Ruf hl hl hl, BirdNet meint Waldlaubsänger.

♫ 2025-04-24 09:15:02 Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (call)

Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details

Savi's warbler / Rohrschwirl (Locustella luscinioides)
Profile Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Wikipedia - Rohrschwirl Chiemgau. Source: WIKIPEDIA Wikipedia - Rohrschwirl_Chiemgau.jpg
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2022-06-04.

Description

General: Savi's warbler (Locustella luscinioides) is a species of Old World warbler in the grass warbler genus Locustella. It breeds in Europe and the western Palearctic. It is migratory, wintering in northern and sub-Saharan Africa. [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-01 - 08-29
Breeding: 05-01 - 08-09
Migration in: 04-01 - 05-31
Migration out: 07-29 - 08-29
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=14 cm, wingspan=18-21 cm, weight=14-16 g
Habitats: Wetland

Similar species

Song or calls similar to: Common grasshopper warbler, Nightjar.

Vocalisation

Song: Endless buzzing like an insect or machinery. Lower tone than Feldschwirl.
Song: Gesang ähnlich obiger Art [Feldschwirl]. Tiefere Tonlage, höhere Frequenz. Strophen meist kürzer [Link]
Song insect-like and high-pitched. A monotonous stream of even clicks similar to the whirring of a sewing machine. Song most similar to Grasshopper Warbler but faster (each click hard to distinguish), and lower pitched with less, ringing quality, due to less prominent high frequencies. At closer range a Robin-like, accelerating ticking is heard, introducing the actual song. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic, fast, Frequency: 3-5 KHz
♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC710242 - Savi's Warbler - Locustella luscinioides - song.mp3 (song)


Details

House sparrow / Haussperling (Passer domesticus)
Profile Wikipedia eBird Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

MerlinBirdID suggests a Spanish sparrow, Italian sparrow or House sparrow. 2022-04-12 15:18:40
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2019-05-14.

Description

Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America (introduced), South America, Africa, Asia.
General: One of the most common birds anywhere in Europe and North America. In Fehraltorf there are 5 house sparrows for every one tree sparrow. Eugene Schieffelin brought house sparrows and starlings to North Ameria. As a Shakespeare fan, it is often claimed that he wanted to introduce all species to North America that are mentioned in Shakespeare, but apparently this is not supported by any records
General: Found practically everywhere. Often on the ground or on your table in a cafe (they're very bold) or in groups in bushes and hedges
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel RL V

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=14-15 cm, wingspan=21-25 cm, weight=24-38 g
not sexually dimporphic.
No breeding plumage Identifying characteristics: Youth: beak = yellow (Makes it look like a finch)
Habitats: Settlement

Similar species

Looks similar to: Common reed bunting.

Vocalisation

Song: An monotone chirping. Mainly 2-5 KHz with higher overtones.
Song: Song a primitive, monosyllabic, or slightly disyllabic "chilp", hard to distinguish from Tree Sparrow. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic (mh mh mh), slow, Frequency: 2-5 KHz Singing season: 01-01 - 08-31 Dawn chorus start: 30 minutes before dawn.
♫ 2024-06-18 08:35:00 Fehraltorf (call)

Calls: Most calls very similar to Tree Sparrow, but lacks said species' distinct high pitched call (chew-itt), and alarm call is less dry and raucous. [Link] 1:
XC943040 - House Sparrow one-note swoop call - Passer domesticus.

♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC943040 - House Sparrow one-note swoop call - Passer domesticus.mp3 (call)


2: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN_VIA_BIRDNET
Birdnet 825 chittering could be alarm call, - House sparrow.

♫ 2020-07-25 09:18:27 Source: BirdNet 20200725_091827 birdnet 825 chittering could be alarm call, - House sparrow.mp3 Luppmen (alarm call)

3: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN_VIA_BIRDNET
Birdnet 853 typical chirping - contact calls? 2-5 KHz - House sparrow.

♫ 2020-08-06 09:04:55 Source: BirdNet 20200806_090455 birdnet 853 typical chirping - contact calls? 2-5 KHz - House sparrow.mp3 Luppmen (contact call)

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz), Special sounds: swoop.
Details

Italian sparrow / Italiensperling (Passer italiae)
Profile Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Italiensperling Männchen in Locarno. 2024-09-02 18:03:02 Locarno
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-04-06.

Description

Classification: It is intermediate between the house sparrow, and the Spanish sparrow, a species of the Mediterranean and Central Asia closely related to the house sparrow. [Link]
General: Within Switzerland it's mostly seen in Ticino.
Appearance and identification: Männchen ähnlich wie Haussperlng, doch mit braunem Scheitel, hellen Wangen und ausgedehnt schwarzer Kehle und Brust, die bis zu den Schultern reicht, angedeuteter weisser Augenstreif; Weibchen sind kaum von denjenigen des Haussperlings zu unterscheiden. [Link]

Other Details

Habitats: Settlement

Vocalisation

Song: Sounds like house sparrow to me
Song attributes: Melody: stereotype melodic, slow, Frequency: 2-5 KHz
No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC729736 - Italian Sparrow - Passer italiae - typical sparrowish swoop or fast falling 3-note call.

♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC729736 - Italian Sparrow - Passer italiae - typical sparrowish swoop or fast falling 3-note call.mp3 (call)


Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details

Eurasian tree sparrow / Feldsperling (Passer montanus)
Profile Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Rekordbeobachtung - 8 Vögel an der Futterstelle, hinten links ein ungewöhnlicher Besuch von einem Buchfink, und sonst Feldsperlinge und eine Kohlmeise. 2024-12-15 13:40:22 Greater Fehraltorf
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2020-04-10.

Description

Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America (introduced), Africa, Asia.
General: Similar to the house sparrow, but with the black cheek patch seen here. in Fehraltorf there are 5 times as many house sparrows as tree sparrows.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel RL V
Etymology: Der Gesang ist ein rhythmisches Tschilpen, das lautmalerisch mit tsche tsche umschrieben wird. [Link]
Geography: Brought from Germany, about 20 of these birds were released in St. Louis in 1870. The population took hold there, and they might have spread except that the House Sparrow, seemingly more aggressive and adaptable, reached the St. Louis area at about the same time. Eurasian Tree Sparrows are still found in parts of Missouri and Illinois, and have reached southeastern Iowa, but they are fairly local in farmland and suburbs. The tougher House Sparrow may keep them out of other areas. [Link]
Vocalization: Most other sounds similar to House Sparrow, and may be difficult to identify. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=14 cm, wingspan=20-22 cm, weight=18-29 g
Habitats: Settlement

Vocalisation

Song: Monotone chirping, rougher than that of the house sparrow. Most 2-7 KHz mit many overtones, i.e. somewhat higher than the house sparrow.
Song: Chattering sounds are generally harder, and song slightly higher pitched than House Sparrow. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: 2-7 KHz
Calls: Distinct, high-pitched and explosive contact-call; "che-witt" typically given in flight. Second syllable rising rapidly in pitch. [Link] Rough sounding voice
XC926073 - Eurasian Tree Sparrow - Passer montanus - call.

♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC926073 - Eurasian Tree Sparrow - Passer montanus - call.mp3 (call)


Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz),
Details

Spanish sparrow / Weidensperling (Passer hispaniolensis)
Profile Wikipedia Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Possibly Spanish sparrow building nest at Hotel Gren Rey, La Gomera. 2022-03-12 11:06:30
First observed in La Gomera on 2022-03-12.

Description

General: The Spanish sparrow or willow sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis) is a passerine bird of the sparrow family Passeridae. It is found in the Mediterranean region and south-west and central Asia. It is very similar to the closely related house sparrow, and the two species show their close relation in a "biological mix-up" of hybridisation in the Mediterranean region, which complicates the taxonomy of this species. [more]
Vocalization:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file

. [Link]

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=15 cm, wingspan=23-26 cm, weight=22-36 g
Details

Rock sparrow / Steinsperling (Petronia petronia)
Profile Wikipedia Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Steinsperling, Ponta de Sao Lourenco, Madeira. 2023-03-10 15:29:04 Madeira
First observed in Madeira on 2023-03-10.

Description

General: Der Steinsperling (Petronia petronia) ist eine Vogelart aus der Familie der Sperlinge. Er kommt im Süden Eurasiens sowie im Norden Afrikas vor. [more]

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=14 cm, wingspan=28-32 cm, weight=26-35 g
Details

Alpine accentor / Alpenbraunelle (Prunella collaris)
Profile Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Wikipedia: Alpine accentor Source: WIKIPEDIA Prunella_collaris.jpg
🔍 Never observed (yet!)

Description

The alpine accentor (Prunella collaris) is a small passerine bird in the family Prunellidae, which is native to Eurasia and North Africa. [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel RL R

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 05-01 - 08-09
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=18 cm, wingspan=30-32 cm, weight=37-43 g
Habitats: Mountain

Vocalisation

Song: Fast, long, chirpy
Song: Song is a varied stream of melodious and chattering notes, more resembling skylark than the much higher pitched Dunnock. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: sings 30 seconds or longer, fast, Frequency: 1-8 KHz
♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC688398 - Alpine Accentor - Prunella collaris - long song recorded in France.mp3 (song)


Details

Dunnock / Heckenbraunelle (Prunella modularis)
Profile Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Heckenbraunelle singt auf Baumspitze - nicht in der Hecke. 2024-06-25 07:33:46 Mettmenalp, GL
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2020-04-16.

Description

General: Heard at Hungerseeli and near Lendikon according to BirdNET. Finally seen near Amden 2023, Mettmenalp 2024.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-20 - 08-18
Migration in: 03-01 - 05-01
Migration out: 08-18 - 10-27
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=14 cm, wingspan=19-21 cm, weight=16-25 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: General: High-pitched, repetitive but complex little tune, 3 seconds long with about 15 notes rising and falling, falling at the end, then 3 second pause.
Song: Melodisch, slowly rising, roughly like black-cap warbler, which I guessed in the bird-song.ch quiz. [Link]
Schnell wie ein Rotkehlchen aber nicht herunter plätschernd, hoch und runter zwischen 3 und 7 kHz. [Link]
Song: Singt schon im Vorfrühling. Klangfarbe ähnlich Gartenbaumläufer. Aufbau ähnlich Zaunkönig, aber ohne Triller. Viel leiser und dünner. [Link]
Song a fast and evenly paced, high pitched stream of clear notes. No consistent phrasing. Similar in timbre to Robin, but does not vary tempo or pitch nearly as much. Often compared to the sound of a squeaky wheelbarrow. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: stereotype melodic, fast, Frequency: 4-8 KHz Singing season: 02-15 - 07-31 Dawn chorus start: 45 minutes before dawn.
Calls: Hohe „zi“ „tsi“. Auf dem Zug „zieht“. Etwas absinkend.. [Link]
Contact call a dry, thick trill "trrr", and a short King Fisher-like, high-pitched "zeep". [Link] Swooping staccato call 0.5 seconds long heard near Lendikon. Repeated irregularly after 1-3.5 seconds.
XC594397 - Dunnock - Prunella modularis modularis - call recorded in Poland.

♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC594397 - Dunnock - Prunella modularis modularis - call recorded in Poland.mp3 (call)


Call attributes: Call melody: one note, fast, Frequency: 5-7 KHz, Special sounds: swoop.
Details

Brambling / Bergfink (Fringilla montifringilla)
Profile Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Bergfink bei Bahnhof Fehraltorf. 2023-02-01 12:50:26 Fehraltorf
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2023-02-01.

Description

Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast
Geography: the Brambling appears regularly in small numbers in Alaska during migration, straying the short distance across the Bering Sea. Some of those that stray across in autumn apparently then continue south on the American side, and there have been winter records for numerous states and provinces east to the Atlantic Coast and south to Colorado. Many of these vagrant Bramblings have been found visiting bird feeders. [Link]
Vocalization: Large repertoire of mostly characteristic sounds. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Migration in: 02-20 - 04-20
Migration out: 09-17 - 12-07
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=14 cm, wingspan=25-26 cm, weight=17-30 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: General: Bergfink - call cheep plus two ascending Grünfink squawks. Song? Grünfink squawk but not descending, every 3-4 seconds.
Song: Song very distinct; a soft, wheezing, drawn-out single note. Repeated at the same pitch in a monotonous manner. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz) Special sounds: rasp Singing season: 04-14 - 09-15
♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC731031 - Brambling song - Fringilla montifringilla.mp3 (song)


Calls: Contact calls include a short, nasal, ascending "keeaa", a short high-pitched, piercing "tzeet" and a linnet-like "chepp". May be mistaken for Greenfinch, but note softer timbre and stable pitch throughout the call. [Link] call cheep plus two ascending greenfinch (Grünfink) squawks
XC900455 - Brambling call - Fringilla montifringilla.

♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC900455 - Brambling call - Fringilla montifringilla.mp3 (call)


Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 2-6 KHz,
Details

Common chaffinch / Buchfink (Fringilla coelebs)
Profile Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Buchfink, sieht für mich gut ernährt aus! 2025-01-04 15:58:56 Greater Fehraltorf
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2019-06-04.

Description

General: Heard everywhere locally but less often seen. In winter 2020-2021 it often accompanied tits to our feeder (2021-2022 less often). While they grabbed sunflower seeds, the chaffinch would hunt for food on the ground or in bushes.
General: On Dec 8 2021, was surprised to see flocks of collared doves, chaffinches and a few sparrows in a harvested corn field as it was snowing. I wasn't aware that chaffinches formed flocks, but the Merlin BirdID app told me 'forms flocks in winter'.
General: I've caught it on stubby branches of an evergreen, in a lone tree in a farmyard, and in Brittany even on a lightpost. And I seem to see one every time I go to Zurich, so they're happy in an urban setting.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Etymology: Als Kontakt- und Alarmruf dient «pink», von dem wahrscheinlich die deutsche Bezeichnung «Fink» herkommt. [Von BirdLifes Schweizer 'bird song' Website]
Anderen Quellen zufolge wird dieser Ruf nur als „Regenruf“ bezeichnet, weil er lautmalerisch als „trief“ gedeutet wird. [Link]
Appearance and identification: Interesting tidbit: the chaffinch is one bird that can change colors without molting. Its new feathers in autumn are grayish, but by late spring the edges of the feathers have worn away, revealing the chaffinch's brightest colors of the year. [Lovette and Fitzpatrick's Handbook of Bird Biology]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-01 - 07-31
Migration in: 02-20 - 04-15
Migration out: 09-10 - 11-15
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=14 cm, wingspan=24-28 cm, weight=18-29 g
Habitats: Forest
Social groups can include up to 10 members.

Vocalisation

Song: General: A medium long phrase that slowly descends (I think of it bouncing down a staircase), then usually takes a jump up before a final descent.
Song: In Bavaria the mnemonic for the typical chaffinch song is: „Ich hätte gerne ein Weizenbier“, i.e. "I'd like another Weizenbier". [DasHaus]
Song: Song a falling 5 sec. phrase "zitt-zitt-chep-chepp-chu-chu-churrurrwitt". Structurally similar to Willow Warbler, but with a conclusive, ascending and accented ending, and with a much harder, finch-like, timbre. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: stereotype melodic (mmmmmmmmLlhH), slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz) Singing season: 02-01 - 07-31 Dawn chorus start: 10 minutes before dawn.
♫ 2024-04-30 12:55:00 Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2024-06-25 08:29:58 Source: Zoom H6/H2n Mettmenalp, GL (call)


♫ 2021-04-19 14:29:22 Source: BirdNet 20210419_142922 birdnet 1449 - Common Chaffinch but who is the hhll behind him - Common Chaffinch - Fehraltorf.mp3 Fehraltorf (song)

1: General: Repeated ascending note, faster than the long starling whoops, about 2/seconds - compare with the black redstart. There are many different calls, the Marler book describes the 'chink' call as functioning as a mobbing and separation call. At XenoCanto I find calls described as "ping", "pik" (same thing?), "pchew", "duit", "huit", "ti-huit".
Call: Der sogenannte Regenruf der Männchen, „schrrüt“, der selbst in benachbarten Ortsteilen deutlich variieren kann, erklingt nur während der Brutzeit. Als Regenruf wird er bezeichnet, weil er kurz vor oder sogar während des Regens zu hören ist, wenn die anderen Vögel verstummen. [DasHaus]
Rain call from XenoCanto

♫ Recorded by Paul Driver in Mundford, Norfolk, UK Source: XENOCANTO XC71019 common chaffinch rain call.mp3 (rain call)


2: Call: Als Alarmsignal dient ein mehrsilbiges „pink“. [DasHaus]
Ping call from XenoCanto

♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC460303 common chaffinch ping call.mp3 (alarm call)


Call attributes: rain call Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 3-5 KHz, Special sounds: whoop.
Details

African chaffinch (Fringilla spodiogenys)
Profile Wikipedia Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube

Wikipedia: African chaffinch Source: WIKIPEDIA 1200px-African_Chaffinch_%28Fringilla_spodiogenys%29_male_Morocco.jpg
🔍 Never observed (yet!)

Description

General:
Details

European serin / Girlitz (Serinus serinus)
Profile Wikipedia eBird Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Girlitz in Levanto. 2024-05-30 06:15:49 Levanto
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2020-06-14.

Description

General: I'm doubtful that all the recordings below are really serin...better check them out.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-20 - 08-18
Migration in: 03-01 - 05-01
Migration out: 09-17 - 11-06
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=11 cm, wingspan=20-23 cm, weight=11-14 g
Habitats: Settlement

Vocalisation

Song: Weird hectic song, and you'll probably hear them but not see them, which is a shame, because they're a colorful yellow bird. The song seems to defy description - described variously as the jingling of a bunch of keys, like crushing glass or the pouring of broken glass (the German Wikipedia refers to a nickname 'Glasscutter'), the sound of a cork twising in a bottle (Thomas Seilnacht on digitalefolien.ch), and one source I can no longer find talked about a ruined cassette tape. A Portuguese web site aptly calls it 'a high-pitched and fast rambled sum of indistinctive elements', and U. Cornell's ebird.org calls it frantically fast, oiseaux-birds.com 'a prolonged, wheezy, chirping', beautyofbirds.com 'a buzzing trill'.
Der Gesang des Girlitz ... ist nicht so melodisch wie der des verwandten Kanarienvogels [auch Kanariengirlitz genannt]. Er wurd schon mit 'einem schnell zürückgespulten Kassentenrekorder' verglichen oder als 'hastig quitschend' bezeichnet. [Link]
Das Gesangsrepertoire umfasst über 50 komplexe Silben, die in einem sehr schnellen Tempo und einer sehr stereotypen Reihenfolge eigene Lieder bilden. Starke Variationen finden sich im Übergang von einer Tour (zusammenhängenden Abfolge von Silben, also (Teil-)Strophe) in eine andere (Modulation). Das Gesangsrepertoire ist unter den Stieglitzartigen (Carduelinae) einzigartig.[1] Zudem umfasst es eine variable Menge an Silben, die auch im Gesang anderer Vögel verwendet werden. Es konnte bewiesen werden, dass die Komposition des Repertoires geographisch variiert. [Wikipedia setzt sich ernsthaft mit dem Gesang auseinander]
Song: Song a hectic, jingling, continuous trill, like the pouring of broken glass. The highest notes are constantly modulated to form vague motifs. Timbre comparable to Corn Bunting. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: sings 5-19 seconds, very fast, Frequency: 4-10 KHz
♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC637940 - European Serin - Serinus serinus - song, recorded in France.mp3 (song)


Calls: Ringing trill also used as contact call, with slightly falling pitch "trrilrlitlitlit". Alarm call a short, redpoll-like "weee-eeet", with an accented high-pitched middle part. [Link]
XC938311 - European Serin chirpy flight call - Serinus serinus.

♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC938311 - European Serin chirpy flight call - Serinus serinus.mp3 (flight call)


Call attributes: flight call Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz),
Details

European goldfinch / Stieglitz (Carduelis carduelis)
Profile Wikipedia eBird Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Stieglitz. 2024-05-16 10:55:11 Kaltbrunner-Riet
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2019-09-22.

Description

General: One of the more colorful birds in our area, but fairly shy and skittish, so you don't see them much. Supposedly a bit smaller than a sparrow or a great tit, but to me they look bigger and heavier?
General: Well hidden in the tree branches; at thistles or sunflowers.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Etymology: Name stammt angeblich vom Gesang: ein steigernder sti-ge-litt. Google AI sagt 'der Name "Stieglitz" stammt aus dem Slawischer (z.B. Polnisch szczvaieł, Tschechisch stehlik).'
Etymology: Google AI sagt, Distelfink 'bezeichnet einen Vogel, der sich von Distelsamen ernährt. ...was auch den lateinischen Namen Cardülis (von Carduus, Distel) begründet
Etymology: Das slawische Wort stellt wohl ursprünglich eine lautmalerische Wiedergabe des Lockrufes des Vogels dar. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-20 - 09-07
Migration in: 03-12 - 05-10
Migration out: 08-29 - 11-15
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=12 cm, wingspan=21-25 cm, weight=14-19 g
Habitats: Settlement

Vocalisation

Song: General: Hectic sing-song, quite chaotic in feeding groups. But kept as songbird, so I guess more melodic when singing solo. A bit like a black cap warbler (Mönchsgrasmücke).
Gesang hat eine Struktur (und ist langsamer als der Girlitz): Zuerst eine kleine Melodie hoch und runter; dann vielleicht ein Grünfink-Triller, dann 4 wiederholte Noten oder ein neues Melodiechen. (Oder kommen diese Elemente eher zufällig?)
Song: Melodie geht meistens 2-3 Sekunden hoch und runter, meistens mit einer wiederholten 1-Noter mit ~6x die gleiche Note. [Link]
Song: My first (multilingual) notes: Stieglitz like Grünfink, fast, high, occasional trills. Occasionally ends a bit with falling note like buchfink
Song: Mir wurde erst in St. Moritz in Juli 2021 bewusst wie ähnlich der Stieglitz wie ein Grünfink klingt - beide können lange Gesang mit Trillern und rauhen sinkenden Toenen singen, und ich habe Stieglitz v.a. durch dieses Stöhnen für Grünfink gehalten.
Song: Contact-call distinct, and also constitutes a major part of the song. A sharp and explosive "witt", or "tzee-witt". Sometimes given as a single syllable, di- or trisyllabic, or as continuous series. The song is comprised of rapid series of the contact call, interrupted by drawn-out melodic notes and trills. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: stereotype melodic (Llmh), fast, Frequency: 2-7 KHz Special sounds: rattle, fluting Singing season: year round Only pauses singing while molting and thus endangered. Dawn chorus start: 20 minutes before dawn.
♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC638230 - European Goldfinch - Carduelis carduelis.mp3 (song)


Calls: Other calls: A harsh budgerigar or house martin-like "trrrtt-trrrrt". [Link] Wild melody (remember these birds are also kept as songbirds in cages. the German name Stieglitz imitates its call (sti-ge-lit) - though I don't hear that! [Link]
Xeno-Canto recording

♫ Adult call recorded in the UK. Source: XENOCANTO XC468566 European Goldfinch call in UK.mp3 (call)

Xeno-Canto recording

♫ Record in Lège-Cap-Ferret, France byStanislas Wroza and described by him as a 'tik' call and a flight call. Source: XENOCANTO XC526383 European Goldfinch flight call.mp3 (flight call)


Call attributes: Call melody: stereotype melodic, fast, Frequency: 2-8 KHz,
Details