Pygmy Cormorant - Microcarbo pygmeus* |
It is the smallest cormorant nesting colonially in freshwater areas of the Venice lagoon, where it has become reasonably common in recent years. Its plumage varies depending on seasons and age. It feeds on small fishes. Photo by Alvise Luchetta. |
Eurasian Bittern – Botaurus stellaris* |
Large sized heron, with a very mimetic plumage. Its shape is compact and stocky, with thick neck and relatively short legs. It is a solitary species, in addition, it’s very difficult to observe. It has an unmistakable song similar to a mooing during the breeding season. It hunts especially amphibians and small fish. Photo by Adriano De Faveri. |
Purple Heron – Ardea purpurea |
Big heron breeding in colonies at extensive, shallow swamps covered with mature reedbeds. Long distance migratory bird. At great distances, it can be confused with the much commoner Grey Heron. It mainly feeds on fish, amphibians, reptiles and crustaceans. Photo by Adriano De Faveri. |
Marsh harrier– Circus aeroginosus |
Medium-large raptor. The male has brown feathers, light grey wings and tail, while the female has more uniform plumage. It is very linked to wetlands, breeding on shallow freshwater lakes or rivers with fairly extensive reedbed fringes. Nests on tall reeds. Very sensitive species and vulnerable to anthropic disturbance. It feeds on small aquatic mammals, eggs, small waterbirds, wounded ducks, amphibians and reptiles. Photo by Adriano De Faveri. |
Common kingfisher – Alcedo atthis |
Kingfisher frequents freshwater wetlands, reeds, lagoon areas, fishing valleys and especially river courses. It’s a small, short-tailed and short-legged bird with a big head and disproportionately long bill. Beautiful bright colours: crown and wings greenish-blue, back and tail bright blue, underparts and cheek patch warm orangey brownish-red. It mainly feeds on small fishes and other small aquatic animals. Photo by Adriano De Faveri. |
Little Bittern – Ixobrychus minutus |
Very small heron. Secretive, but not infrequently comes to feed at edges of reedbeds. It builds the nest as a platform of reeds often raised above water-level in reedbeds or bushes It is a very wary species; for this reason, if surprised, it camouflages up to the point of completely blending into the reeds. However, it prefers running like a crake than flying. It nourishes of small fishes, amphibians, insects, spiders and shrimps. Photo by Adriano De Faveri. |
Hen Harrier – Circus cyaneus |
It is a medium-sized raptor of solitary habits, except at communal night roosts. It spends the winter in open spaces and fields. It doesn’t breed in Italy. Recognized as a harrier by long wings and tail, and low flight with wings raised in shallow V when gliding. The back is grey-blue in the male, while it is brown in the female with a white rump patch; the chest, head and lower parts are pale in both sexes. It frequently occurs in wetlands of both fresh and brackish water. It preys on various animals such as rats, lizards, small birds, eggs. Photo by Adriano De Faveri. |
Reed Bunting - Emberiza schoeniclus |
Small passerine with a mostly brown and buffy-white plumage with dark streaking and white tail-sides. The male is easily identified by black head and throat with pure white neck band and narrow white moustachial stripe. The female is much more homogeneous. It prefers the reeds especially for nesting. It nourishes of seeds, herbaceous plants, shrubs, insects and molluscs. Photo by Adriano De Faveri. |
Bearded Reedling- Panurus biarmicus |
Small passerine breeding colonially in large reedbeds at lowland lakes and swamp margins. Mainly resident, but also dispersive, undertakes sporadic eruptions in autumn. The male has a light blue-grey head with a long black drooping moustache. Throat white. Instead, the female is much more homogeneous. It has a long tail. If present, it is easy to spot during its noisy activities of food search climbing reed stems nimbly; it nourishes of larvae, coleopterans, small spiders or seeds. Photo by Adriano De Faveri. |
