Birds in Profile

Profiles of birds living in Fehraltorf A total of 309 species is included, 216 of them have been observed. Birds not observed yet Red-necked grebe Little owl Black-bellied plover Sacred ibis Pomarine jaeger Squacco heron Grey partridge Long-eared owl European golden-plover Wood duck White-winged snowfinch Boreal owl Tundra bean goose Long-tailed jaeger Great skua Rough-legged hawk Greater spotted eagle Griffon vulture Thrush nightingale Wallcreeper Corn crake Little stint Black-legged kittiwake Ortolan bunting Eurasian pygmy-owl Ruddy duck Hazel grouse Red-rumped swallow Caspian gull Smew Eurasian stone-curlew Western capercaillie Peregrine falcon Snow bunting Collared flycatcher Collared pratincole Bearded vulture White-winged tern Rock pipit Greater short-toed lark Sabine's gull Spotted crake Common grasshopper warbler Bohemian waxwing Red-throated loon Short-eared owl European roller Alpine accentor Jack snipe Montagu's harrier Red-billed chough Northern bald ibis Temminck's stint Little bustard Rock ptarmigan White-tailed eagle Black grouse Common scoter Greater scaup Eurasian spoonbill Red-throated pipit Broad-billed sandpiper Bar-tailed godwit Common quail Red-footed falcon Western black-eared wheatear Red-necked phalarope Dunlin Red phalarope Northern harrier Eurasian eagle-owl Pectoral sandpiper Horned lark Long-tailed duck Barn owl Lapland longspur Common rosefinch Barred warbler European honey-buzzard Black-tailed godwit Little bunting Gull-billed tern Icterine warbler Caspian tern Brant Nightjar Rock partridge Marsh sandpiper Eurasian woodcock Eurasian dotterel Little crake Woodchat shrike Mandarin duck

Fehraltorf's Top Ten:

General: These were the 10 most common birds in the 'census' of 2008.

Common blackbird / Amsel (Turdus merula)

Also known as: Eurasian Blackbird, Eurasian blackbird

Description

Classification: Genus Turdus (Turdus); Family Thrushes (Turdidae)
General: The first bird I loved listening to
General: It earned its own song on my album i.e.: Blackbird on a Palm Tree.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=24-25 cm, wingspan=34-38 cm, weight=80-125 g
Habitats: Settlement
Interesting behavior: Flaps its wings when calling.

Vocalisation

Song: Other: Gut zu erkennen ist die Amsel. Sie singt melodiös, erklärt Heller, «zuerst flötend und dann gegen Schluss so schnirpslig». Die Amsel singe gerne dort, wo sie gut gehört werde, etwa vor Hauswänden, die den Schall nicht schlucken. Ich wollte schauen was schnirpslig heisst, aber diese ist diese einzige Verwendung, die Google kennt! Der flötende Teil ist relativ tief, 1.5-3 KHz, der schnirpslige aber 2.5-7 KHz. (Schnirpslig ist ein schones Wort das der Redner erfunden hat - Google findet nur diese eine Webseite mit dem Wort!) [Von der SRF Webseite:]
Song:

Melodisch flötend dazwischen auch zerquetschte Töne. Die Elemente werden nicht wiederholt. Singt von Singwarte aus. Ca. 100 verschiedene Strophentypen. [Link]

One of the most appreciated song birds. Very melodious and resonant, with long mellow notes and a large register. Less high pitched sounds than Song Thrush, and seldom repeats a phrase. Timbre fuller than both Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush. Well defined pauses between phrases, giving the song a relaxed pace. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: improvised melodic (lmh), slow, Frequency: 1-7 KHz Special sounds: flourish Singing season: 02-01 - 07-31 Dawn chorus start: 45 minutes before dawn.
♫ 2023-02-23 17:40:48

Source: Zoom H6/H2n (song)

♫ 2024-05-15 05:27:28

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Luppmen (song)

Calls:

Je nach Situation, „duck duck duck“, „tix-tix-tix“ in rascher Folge, „srieh“ (auch als Flugwarnruf) [Link]

Large repertoire of calls. Most characteristic is a hysterical rattle often given when flushed. Sometimes preceded by a hard "tok tok", which then accelerates into a panicky arpeggio-like crescendo. Contact call a thin redwing-like "srrreee". Alarm calls: a sharp "tink, tink" or a very high pitch falling whistle. [Link] 1: Sharp-edged call, mostly one note.
XC919083 - Common Blackbird - Turdus merula - 1-note alarm call in Estonia.

♫ (alarm call)

Alarm rattle

♫ Had never heard something like this, but I saw a black bird land in a tree by the Luppmen and shortly thereafter a blackbird started singing, so I check xeno-canto for something similar. Sometimes called an alarm rattle. (alarm call)

XC931182 - Common Blackbird - Turdus merula - alarm call swoop from Sweden.

♫ (alarm call)

2: Loud falling series of notes, unlike anything else you hear from a blackbird, sometimes called an alarm rattle

Call attributes: alarm call Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz),
Details Wikipedia eBird Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-04-13 07:32:16 Friedliweid (song?)

♫ 2020-07-04 13:35:48 Heard on the Luppmen Luppmen (alarm call)

♫ 2020-06-23 06:18:54 Heard on the Luppmen Luppmen (alarm call)

♫ (song)

♫ 2024-03-22 06:08:44

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2020-06-13 18:29:15 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2019-06-08 16:52:30 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-05-30 18:15:00 Switzerland (song)

♫ 2025-05-14 17:18:00 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-06-01 11:30:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-04-28 05:25:07 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-05-29 06:00:00 Merlin suggested additional birds: Mauersegler, Amsel, Mönchsgrasmücke, Türkentaube.

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Levanto (song?)

♫ 2020-05-24 16:18:11 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-05-20 08:38:44

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Klingnauer Stausee (man-made lake) (song?)

♫ 2020-05-29 05:02:19 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-13 06:19:02 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-13 07:35:34 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-05-29 06:03:46

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Levanto (song?)

♫ 2021-03-24 06:11:05 (song)

♫ 2024-05-30 04:43:32

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Levanto (song?)

♫ 2020-04-03 05:42:06 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-11-22 14:40:00 Levanto (song?)

♫ 2024-05-30 04:52:36

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Levanto (song?)

♫ 2020-06-27 16:56:26 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 17:08:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2024-10-31 16:44:21 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-04-27 13:27:06 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-27 13:26:50 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-03-22 06:16:30

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2024-06-16 07:57:48

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Greater Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2026-05-14 19:19:54

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (begging call)

♫ 2021-07-17 09:36:55 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-05-07 10:17:27 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2024-03-22 06:28:12

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (drumming)

♫ 2025-05-14 15:32:46

Source: Zoom H2n Pfaeffikon (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 15:35:00 Pfaeffikon (song?)

♫ 2020-05-29 07:37:25 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-08-23 09:57:22 (song)

♫ 2025-06-17 07:48:56

Source: Zoom H2n Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2024-06-13 14:50:20

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2020-05-04 05:27:00 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2026-03-06 18:36:30

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2023-03-10 09:24:10

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Madeira (song)

♫ 2023-07-01 05:15:38

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2026-03-01 08:55:08

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song)

♫ 2023-07-01 05:13:52

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 17:09:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-04-30 05:58:17 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-05-20 08:26:48

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Klingnauer Stausee (man-made lake) (song?)

♫ 2024-08-31 08:40:00 Wildert Weiher (call)

♫ 2025-05-14 15:34:20

Source: Zoom H2n Pfaeffikon (song?)

♫ 2025-03-09 07:27:28

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2023-03-14 07:47:08

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Madeira (song)

♫ 2024-05-28 03:57:00 Merlin suggested additional birds: Mittelmeermöwe, Zwergohreule, Misteldrossel, Amsel. Levanto (song)

♫ 2020-05-24 16:16:27 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2026-03-07 06:12:02

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-07-01 07:29:27 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2026-04-28 15:13:38

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song)

♫ 2023-03-11 09:22:24

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Madeira (song)

♫ 2025-01-19 16:33:00

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-10-15 18:55:07 Besazio (song?)

♫ 2022-06-04 12:48:50

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Kaltbrunner-Riet (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 15:33:14

Source: Zoom H2n Pfaeffikon (song?)

♫ 2023-01-28 09:30:17 (call)

♫ 2022-06-04 12:46:32

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Kaltbrunner-Riet (song?)

♫ 2026-03-07 08:00:16

Source: Zoom H2n Gsangweg (song?)

♫ 2020-05-29 05:02:19 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2023-02-23 17:40:48

Source: Zoom H6/H2n (song)

♫ 2026-05-03 05:28:04

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2024-05-30 04:52:36

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Levanto (song?)

♫ 2025-08-13 20:50:00 Switzerland (call)

♫ 2025-05-14 17:15:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-04-28 05:25:07 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2023-03-10 17:59:48

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Madeira (song)

♫ 2025-05-16 19:03:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2023-02-22 17:29:53

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2022-05-22 08:09:03 Leuk (song?)

♫ 2025-05-16 19:05:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2023-02-23 17:17:08

Source: Zoom H6/H2n (song)

♫ 2025-06-08 07:33:00 Stromboli (song)

♫ 2022-05-09 19:49:24

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-03-06 18:17:14 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-03-12 15:07:48

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-06-14 21:09:00 (call)

♫ 2021-03-29 18:26:11 Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2024-05-30 04:43:32

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Levanto (song?)

♫ 2020-04-03 05:48:35 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-24 05:48:59 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-03-22 06:18:46

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2019-06-04 11:44:39 Forsthaus (song?)

♫ 2026-02-02 18:07:00 Switzerland (song)

♫ 2020-07-14 16:03:00 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-03 06:06:45 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-07-08 16:09:31 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2023-02-22 17:29:53

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2024-04-08 05:36:18

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-12-18 13:20:00 Wildert Weiher (call)

♫ 2020-04-22 05:44:09 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-05-01 05:05:36

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-04-13 07:41:50 Friedliweid (song?)

♫ 2020-05-29 07:33:37 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-13 06:41:55 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2022-05-22 08:09:03 Leuk (song?)

♫ 2020-05-24 16:14:14 Pfaeffikon (song?)

♫ 2022-02-21 19:20:04

Source: Zoom H6/H2n (song?)

♫ 2024-05-22 17:47:46

Source: Zoom H6/H2n La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2020-04-28 05:25:07 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-05-04 05:27:00 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2026-04-29 17:59:18

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-06-15 08:50:03 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2021-02-15 10:06:37 Fehraltorf (song?)

Common chaffinch / Buchfink (Fringilla coelebs)

Description

Classification: Genus Fringilla (Fringilla); Subfamily Fringillinae (Fringillinae); Family Fringillidae (Fringillidae)
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 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 (rain call)

2: Call:

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

♫ (alarm call)

Call attributes: rain call Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 3-5 KHz, Special sounds: whoop.
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2019-06-04 12:45:05 Siehe Spectogram um die Beschreibung oben besser zu verstehen. Diese Phrase geht 3.3 Sekunden und umfasst 1.4-7.6 KHz, F#6 bis A#8, oder mehr als 2 Oktave. Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-05-08 17:49:00 Switzerland (call)

♫ 2026-02-28 08:46:20

Source: Zoom H2n Wildert (song?)

♫ 2019-06-08 16:52:30 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-08-03 11:31:56 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2022-06-12 13:17:54 Auslikon (song?)

♫ 2025-06-01 11:30:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2021-07-03 07:46:17 Uster (call)

♫ 2025-02-08 11:44:00 Jona (song)

♫ 2025-03-09 10:00:26

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-04-25 08:20:16 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-13 07:35:34 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-04-26 14:32:26

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Greater Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2020-07-01 07:07:33 Alpweg (call)

♫ 2021-08-14 08:10:41 (call)

♫ 2025-04-24 08:46:10

Source: Zoom H2n Bolle di Magadino (song?)

♫ 2020-06-10 12:45:37 Sils (song?)

♫ 2025-03-09 10:34:24

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (drumming)

♫ 2025-05-14 17:08:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-06-03 09:48:15 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2020-04-27 13:27:06 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-06 15:26:11 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-06-09 11:56:54 Sils (song?)

♫ (call)

♫ 2022-05-21 20:17:39 Leuk and surroundings (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 15:32:46

Source: Zoom H2n Pfaeffikon (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 15:35:00 Pfaeffikon (song?)

♫ 2026-03-07 07:54:40

Source: Zoom H2n Gsangweg (song?)

♫ 2025-06-17 07:48:56

Source: Zoom H2n Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2024-06-13 14:50:20

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2024-09-11 08:18:00 Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2025-03-09 08:46:50

Source: Zoom H2n Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2020-04-23 09:45:13 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2019-06-04 12:45:05 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-06-05 10:43:02 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-03-04 09:25:21

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (drumming)

♫ 2025-05-14 17:09:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-05-29 08:12:19 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-06-03 09:48:15 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 16:41:00 Wetzikon (song?)

♫ 2024-05-20 09:08:40

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Klingnauer Stausee (man-made lake) (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 15:34:20

Source: Zoom H2n Pfaeffikon (song?)

♫ 2024-10-31 13:22:33 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2024-06-25 08:35:32

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Mettmenalp, GL (song)

♫ 2020-04-23 08:50:21 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-09-21 14:32:59 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2026-04-28 15:13:38

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song)

♫ 2023-03-11 11:56:08

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Madeira (song)

♫ 2023-03-11 09:22:24

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Madeira (song)

♫ 2024-06-25 08:38:18

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Mettmenalp, GL (song)

♫ 2020-05-26 17:27:25 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2025-01-19 16:33:00

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-05-07 11:34:55 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2019-06-04 12:45:05 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2023-02-22 17:33:58

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2020-07-14 20:38:42 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2026-03-01 07:52:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-04-21 12:12:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2023-06-13 12:53:22

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Wald bei Speck (song)

♫ 2025-05-14 15:33:14

Source: Zoom H2n Pfaeffikon (song?)

♫ 2025-03-04 08:31:57

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2020-05-19 15:54:42 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2026-03-07 08:00:16

Source: Zoom H2n Gsangweg (song?)

♫ 2021-02-15 08:20:03 Pfäffikersee (song?)

♫ 2025-02-08 11:38:00 Jona (song?)

♫ 2020-05-19 15:54:54 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-05-01 09:15:08 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-06-14 11:10:00 Switzerland (song)

♫ 2025-06-01 11:25:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2024-08-31 08:18:00 Wildert Weiher (call)

♫ 2024-05-16 11:10:18

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Kaltbrunner-Riet (song)

♫ 2020-06-05 06:46:54 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-05-20 09:07:34

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Klingnauer Stausee (man-made lake) (song?)

♫ 2020-05-07 11:52:49 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2020-06-14 12:55:18 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2022-03-13 12:33:16 (song?)

♫ 2020-05-26 17:27:08 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2021-04-15 14:30:37 Katzensee (call)

♫ 2024-09-08 08:23:00 Wald Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2020-04-16 08:11:18 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2022-06-04 12:38:14

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Kaltbrunner-Riet (song?)

♫ 2024-05-28 07:00:56

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Levanto (song?)

♫ 2023-03-11 09:27:28

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Madeira (song)

♫ 2023-03-11 09:31:28

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Madeira (song)

♫ 2020-06-11 13:26:39 Sils (song?)

♫ 2024-06-05 10:30:30

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Pfäffikersee (song)

♫ 2025-04-01 10:18:28

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2022-06-10 10:24:41 (song)

♫ 2024-05-28 07:02:42

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Levanto (song?)

♫ 2025-06-28 14:11:44

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song)

♫ 2026-02-27 15:52:00 Pfäffikersee (song?)

♫ 2024-05-16 11:13:10

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Kaltbrunner-Riet (song?)

♫ 2022-05-21 20:17:39 Leuk and surroundings (song?)

♫ 2021-02-21 13:42:25 Adelboden (song?)

♫ 2020-04-23 08:50:21 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-03-30 13:01:00 Switzerland (call)

♫ 2020-04-25 08:45:10 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-03-09 10:03:18

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2024-05-13 08:09:34

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2026-02-26 08:15:26

Source: Zoom H2n Staldenweiher (song)

♫ 2020-05-07 11:59:04 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2024-06-05 10:18:32

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Pfäffikersee (song)

♫ 2020-05-07 11:59:04 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2026-02-26 08:11:14

Source: Zoom H2n Staldenweiher (song)

♫ 2025-04-21 12:12:00 Switzerland (song?)

House sparrow / Haussperling (Passer domesticus)

Description

Classification: Genus Passer (Passer); Family Sparrows (Passeridae)
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.

♫ (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 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 Luppmen (contact call)

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz), Special sounds: swoop.
Details Wikipedia eBird Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-04-25 06:50:27 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-09-18 13:38:00 New Jersey (song?)

♫ 2020-05-07 07:12:55 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-06-08 17:29:00 Pfäffikersee (call)

♫ 2021-02-21 09:45:00 Adelboden (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 16:18:00 Wetzikon (song?)

♫ (song)

♫ 2025-05-14 17:26:00 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2024-09-18 13:38:00 Merlin suggested additional birds: Fischkrähe, Haussperling. New Jersey (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 16:41:00 Wetzikon (song?)

♫ 2026-04-28 15:13:38

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song)

♫ 2020-04-13 08:20:26 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-15 10:51:08 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-06-01 11:25:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-03-31 08:16:20 Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2024-04-08 05:36:18

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-04-01 10:18:28

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-04-13 08:20:50 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2023-02-11 08:36:00 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2023-02-28 14:33:44

Source: Zoom H6/H2n (call)

♫ 2024-11-01 06:59:53 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

Great tit / Kohlmeise (Parus major)

Description

Classification: Genus Parus (Parus); Family Titmice (Paridae)
General: Most common year-round bird at our house. Often seen at the suet balls we hang out, or in fall at our sunflowers. It's said that they will sound a false alarm at a feeding source, knowing that other birds listen for their alarms and flee! There are many entertaining stories in the Norwegian book 'The Secret Life of Small Birds'.
General: It's a favorite food of the Eurasian sparrowhawk, though I'm sure cats are the greater danger.
General: They flit from tree to tree in small scattered groups, and often avail themselves of the seeds on our sunflowers. They can be heard on the Luppman in Fehraltorf at any time of year and day.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Etymology:

(Conrad) Gessner also notes that the coal tit was known as Kohlmeiß in German – the literal equivalent of its English name, though in its modern orthography Kohlmeise it refers to the great tit (Parus major). That bird was in Gessner's day usually called Spiegelmeiß ("multicoloured tit"[5]), Brandtmeiß ("burnt tit") or grosse Meiß ("great tit") in German. [Link]
Behavior:

'Studies in Europe on tits showed a 2-way doubly asymmetric interaction: the great tit (Parus major) is dominant over the blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) during the nonbreeding season (Haftorn 1993), and the smaller blue tit is competitively dominant during the breeding season (Dhondt 1989).' Another cited work notes that the coal tit is considered the bottom of the hierarchy in Scandinavia. [Interspecific dominance relationships and hybridization between black-capped and mountain chickadees | Behavioral Ecology]

Like all tits it is a cavity nester, usually nesting in a hole in a tree. [Link]

Sie lernen voneinander und sogar von den verwandten Blaumeisen und finden neue Nahrungsquellen. Aber sie merken es sich auch, wenn sie sehen das andere Vögel etwas fressen, was ihnen nicht zukömmlich ist. [Schlaue Kohlmeisen gucken voneinander ab]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 03-23 - 08-09
Migration in: 02-10 - 03-23
Migration out: 09-07 - 10-27

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=14 cm, wingspan=22-25 cm, weight=14-22 g
Habitats: Settlement

Vocalisation

Song: Said to have a repertoire as a species of 50 or more different songs, albeit simple ones, up to 10 per individual. Females prefer a male with a large repertoire. One two-note song sounds like a squeaky bed.
Song: Nabu: Die erste Vogelart, die wir im Jahr hören, ist meistens die Kohlmeise mit ihrem typischen Läuten: "Zip Zäh" oder "Zip zip Zäh". [NABU Experte Lars Lachmann bei Deutschlandfunk Nova]

Song highly variable, but usually consisting of two to three notes repeated in a motif. Same birds have many different motifs but generally repeat them many times before switching. Identified by its timbre and often metallic resonant quality, more than by actual phrasing (which is very variable). Often includes buzzing sounds in song. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic (llhllh), slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz) Singing season: 01-01 - 06-30 Dawn chorus start: 30 minutes before dawn.
♫ 2025-01-15 13:28:00 Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2024-05-02 15:36:26 Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2026-02-24 16:38:24

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2025-02-10 14:00:00 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2020-09-30 17:04:29 Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2024-03-22 06:43:22

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (song)

♫ 2025-03-30 13:41:00 Switzerland (call)

♫ 2024-03-22 06:46:48

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (song)

♫ 2020-10-30 07:20:23 Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2024-09-12 10:10:00 Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2025-03-17 11:59:59

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song)

♫ 2020-06-03 09:14:37 Hungerseeli (song)

♫ 2024-04-27 09:40:00 Schachen, Tobel Wissbach till Degersheim (song)

♫ 2024-05-15 05:27:28

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Luppmen (song)

♫ 2025-02-03 15:23:00 Switzerland (song)

♫ 2024-09-09 07:03:00 Greater Fehraltorf (call)

Calls:

Generally more full-bodied and resonant calls than blue tit, and not so high-pitched. Characteristic Chaffinch-like "tink tink tink" often uttered by male. [Link] 1: Chuck-a-chuck-a-chuck, sometimes preceded by higher 'wheat!'
Call from Xeno-Canto

♫ Illustrates higher 'wheat' before the 'chuck-a-chuck' (call)

Call from Xeno-Canto

♫ (call)

2: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN_VIA_ZOOM
Vogelkonzert bei Staldenweiher - Kohlmeise, Buchfink, Tannenmeise, Trommeln von Buntspecht oder Schwarzspecht, Singdrossel.

♫ 2025-03-04 09:25:21

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (drumming)

Trommeln, Kohlmeise, chattering.

♫ 2024-03-22 06:49:36

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (drumming)

3: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC580188 great tit begging call.

♫ (begging call)

4: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN
Kontaktrufe Kohlmeise, evtl auch Blaumeisen im Garten, an der Luppmen.

♫ 2021-08-09 08:20:56 Luppmen (contact call)

Kohlmeise contact call chatter an der Luppmen.

♫ 2020-08-29 07:43:28 Luppmen (contact call)

5: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN_VIA_ZOOM
Great tit check alarm call oder täck Ruf.

♫ 2021-09-19 10:13:00

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fehraltorf (alarm call)

Call attributes: Call melody: two notes, fast, Frequency: 1-7 KHz,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-04-13 07:08:21 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-13 06:32:54 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2020-10-05 09:04:33 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-04-18 06:39:22 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2021-04-03 17:52:34 Lugano (song?)

♫ 2024-03-22 06:08:44

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2021-03-18 05:54:58 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-05-10 06:29:32 Muralto (song?)

♫ 2025-05-30 18:15:00 Switzerland (song)

♫ 2020-04-30 06:20:34 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-18 07:36:49 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-03-29 10:21:00 Switzerland (song)

♫ 2020-09-30 17:06:25 Uster (song?)

♫ 2024-05-20 08:38:44

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Klingnauer Stausee (man-made lake) (song?)

♫ 2020-04-22 06:29:28 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2020-04-21 08:11:29 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-05-02 15:36:26 Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2020-05-21 10:05:39 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2020-04-13 06:19:02 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-10-28 07:38:00 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-12-08 10:59:00 Switzerland (song)

♫ 2025-12-09 10:39:26 (song?)

♫ 2022-04-10 15:05:12 (song?)

♫ 2020-09-30 16:25:51 Pfäffikersee (song)

♫ 2020-04-03 05:42:06 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-04-13 08:07:48

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2021-07-09 08:53:01 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2024-08-16 08:19:00 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2021-08-22 12:46:21 (song?)

♫ 2020-04-30 05:43:56 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-05-01 06:11:54 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2020-04-13 06:25:17 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-22 05:22:51 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2021-02-09 16:46:35 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-08-23 07:30:00 Luppmen (call)

♫ 2025-03-04 09:20:34

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2024-03-22 06:43:22

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (song)

♫ 2020-05-18 05:05:15 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2020-04-27 13:22:32 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-05-15 05:33:36

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-17 06:19:58 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2020-04-18 06:39:22 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-06-13 14:07:18

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2021-01-20 17:01:54 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-05-04 05:27:00 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-10-22 15:26:34 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2021-01-22 09:07:25 Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2023-06-19 07:07:05

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Bolle di Magadino (song?)

♫ 2025-03-09 08:46:50

Source: Zoom H2n Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2022-02-20 11:44:15 (song?)

♫ 2020-10-24 09:07:01 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-15 10:51:08 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2020-07-14 20:38:21 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-09-14 10:55:23 Levanto (song?)

♫ 2020-08-17 13:53:26 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-23 06:49:59 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-27 13:22:32 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-24 06:15:03 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-22 05:46:49 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-01-31 17:13:00

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2020-10-16 12:24:10 Tremona (song?)

♫ 2020-10-21 08:41:45 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-07 18:30:47 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2025-04-13 08:02:06

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-07-26 08:53:00 Switzerland (call)

♫ 2020-09-23 10:07:10 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-03-04 09:26:58

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Switzerland (drumming)

Sorry, file too big!
♫ 2020-04-18 07:36:49 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2023-06-13 12:53:22

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Wald bei Speck (song)

♫ 2020-04-22 06:31:58 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-09-05 09:16:00 Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2023-02-21 11:38:44

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2020-04-23 09:00:47 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-10-08 15:35:07 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-04-20 05:45:02

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-07-24 08:26:38 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-06-28 09:41:22 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-07 18:20:24 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-15 10:51:08 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-02-08 11:38:00 Jona (song?)

♫ 2020-05-01 06:11:54 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2020-04-30 05:43:56 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-08-29 07:43:28 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-06-28 09:36:51 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-06-10 12:52:00 Sils (song?)

♫ 2021-08-14 07:13:54 Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2020-04-13 07:08:21 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-10-06 08:23:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-08-17 13:55:16 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-07-14 20:38:21 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-10 05:05:53 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-02-10 13:52:00 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-04-19 05:53:46 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-04-30 06:23:06 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-10-31 13:31:41 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2023-02-23 17:17:08

Source: Zoom H6/H2n (song)

♫ 2020-06-22 10:57:35 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-03-08 05:37:58 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-04-03 05:48:35 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-03-08 08:36:00 Staldenweiher (song)

♫ 2020-04-23 06:15:39 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-02-15 09:11:22 Pfaeffikon (song?)

♫ 2020-10-24 09:17:48 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-04-25 13:51:02

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2022-03-23 09:16:56 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-05-07 08:40:28 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-12 10:54:26 Mesikon (song)

♫ 2019-04-22 20:11:18 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2022-01-07 14:09:10

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-10-31 09:31:40 Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2020-03-31 08:16:20 Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2021-01-21 16:39:15 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2024-04-08 05:36:18

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-08-10 09:34:25 Luppmen (call)

♫ 2020-04-03 05:21:43 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-09-09 07:03:00 Greater Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2020-07-14 16:19:29 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-06-07 08:14:26 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-22 05:44:09 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-06-22 11:01:11 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-01-21 12:30:29 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2023-02-11 08:36:00 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-05-09 19:28:16 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-25 08:45:10 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-09-19 10:13:00

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2021-09-19 10:36:00

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2024-09-05 09:17:00 Greater Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2020-05-19 12:53:20 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-05 06:14:35 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-22 05:22:51 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2024-03-22 06:51:40

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2021-04-19 14:38:07 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2026-02-26 08:11:14

Source: Zoom H2n Staldenweiher (song)

♫ 2020-05-04 05:27:00 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-03-30 13:47:00 Switzerland (song)

♫ 2026-04-29 17:59:18

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

European robin / Rotkehlchen (Erithacus rubecula)

Description

Classification: Genus Erithacus (Erithacus); Family Thrushes (Turdidae)
General: Red face and breast, light colored belly, brown and gray back and wings.
General: Singing in a tree, searching for food on the ground.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-11 - 08-18
Migration in: 02-20 - 05-01
Migration out: 08-18 - 11-15

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=14 cm, wingspan=20-22 cm, weight=14-21 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: General: High pitched but also going low, e.g. 2.9-7.7 KHz.
Song:

Only for a short period in late summer while they are moulting and inconspicuous do robins stop singing. Both sexes sing. [RSPB article]
Song:

Song medium to very high pitched, with mostly clear tones with a liquid quality. Timbre reminiscent of Wren or Dunnock, but with a much more varied structure and tempo. Pitch ranges from very high to low, almost thrush-like, notes. No recognizable motifs. Often ends on a rising or falling pitch, giving it a "Chinese" accent. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: improvised melodic, fast, Frequency: high (3-9 KHz) Special sounds: fluting Singing season: 02-01 - 07-31 Only pauses singing while molting and thus endangered. Dawn chorus start: 50 minutes before dawn.
Calls:

Alarm call a thin, electric "tick", often in series with decelerating tempo. [Link] 1: "ticking call", "tik", "tek", . Personal: A single note usually repeated twice. Somewhat sputtery. BirdID refers to 'a thin, electric "tick". In one source said to be used as alarm call.
Call:

A variety of calls is also made at any time of year, including a ticking note indicating anxiety or mild alarm. [Link]
I heard 3 or 4 scattered birds calling it in woods with underbrush but saw no birds. BirdNet told me they were robins, which I found hard to believe, but on comparing it with recordings at XenoCanto, I was convinced! Maybe they were telling each other "Don't show yourself to that alarming guy!".

♫ 2021-07-03 08:05:14 (call)

2: "srii". Low chirpy to sputtery monotone
Xeno-Canto recording by Stanislas Wroza noted as 'srii' call

♫ (call)

3: "tsii". General: A longer falling note (9Khz-7Khz) called a tsii by the recordist.
Call:

Sound Approach: If you listen carefully you may notice that in the daytime, apart from the ubiquitous tik call, Robins also give a shrill tsi rather frequently. It is this tsi that they adapt for use as a nocturnal flight call. Nfc=night flight call. [Link]
In the sonogram it's a longer, falling note.

♫ (alarm call)

4: Here is an audio of a high-pitched hawk call (7.5-8.5 KHz). See also a YouTube video comparing ground threats from aerial threats.
XC139085 - European Robin - Erithacus rubecula - hawk alarm call from Paul Driver.

♫ (alarm call)

5: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN_VIA_ZOOM
Volles Konzert - Rotkehlchen, Trommeln eine Buntspechts, Buchfink.

♫ 2025-03-09 10:34:24

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (drumming)

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 4-9 KHz, Special sounds: sputter/pebble-clatter.
Details

Video

YouTube: European robin alarm calls

Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-04-28 05:25:07 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-12 12:09:53 Mesikon (song?)

♫ 2025-10-19 09:03:00 Switzerland (call)

♫ 2026-02-28 08:46:20

Source: Zoom H2n Wildert (song?)

♫ 2024-03-22 06:08:44

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2020-10-15 18:55:36 Besazio (song?)

♫ 2020-05-20 11:00:39 Pfäffikersee (song?)

♫ 2020-06-03 08:49:51 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2025-06-01 11:30:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-05-19 15:02:49 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-05-01 11:59:52 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-10-24 09:59:58

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Neeracherried (song?)

♫ 2025-03-06 11:53:48

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Wetzikon (song)

♫ 2020-06-18 11:50:41 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2020-05-07 10:34:36 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2020-10-30 13:43:50 Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2025-08-19 10:49:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-10-18 10:05:00 Switzerland (call)

♫ 2020-06-27 15:50:16 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-07-03 08:18:30 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-04-23 09:27:41 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-05-07 13:06:06 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2025-03-04 09:20:34

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2021-07-17 09:36:55 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-04-07 10:08:47 Luppmen (song?)

♫ (call)

♫ 2025-11-20 17:01:54 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2021-10-24 09:11:32 Neeracherried (song?)

♫ 2020-05-24 14:50:51 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-06-13 14:50:20

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2020-12-15 11:12:34 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-05-19 15:51:25 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-10-16 11:59:46 Tremona (song?)

♫ 2025-10-05 09:04:00 Levanto (song?)

♫ 2021-01-05 07:37:21 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-10-07 09:08:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-04-28 05:32:39 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-10-05 08:32:08 Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2025-10-31 14:37:00 Wildert (song?)

♫ 2020-10-15 18:56:07 Besazio (song?)

♫ 2025-04-21 09:17:26

Source: Zoom H2n Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge (call)

♫ 2020-10-30 17:45:36 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-05-19 15:49:30 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-08-31 08:37:00 Wildert Weiher (call)

♫ 2020-09-30 15:59:19 Pfäffikersee (call)

♫ 2020-04-23 08:50:21 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2026-03-07 06:12:02

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2024-08-31 08:35:00 Wildert Weiher (call)

♫ 2020-06-23 18:20:41 Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2020-06-11 13:13:16 Sils (song?)

♫ (call)

♫ 2020-09-14 10:27:09 Levanto (song?)

♫ Italy (song)

♫ 2020-06-23 18:19:45 Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2020-06-03 10:22:55 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2020-10-15 18:55:07 Besazio (song?)

♫ 2023-02-21 11:38:44

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2021-10-24 09:54:35 Neeracherried (call)

♫ 2026-02-26 08:42:44

Source: Zoom H2n Staldenweiher (song)

♫ 2020-10-15 18:54:40 Besazio (song?)

♫ 2020-07-10 15:23:43 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2026-03-07 08:00:16

Source: Zoom H2n Gsangweg (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 17:15:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-10-30 13:41:29 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2026-02-26 09:17:52

Source: Zoom H2n Staldenweiher (call)

♫ 2020-06-03 08:49:13 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2020-10-17 12:17:32 Meride (song?)

♫ 2025-11-20 17:02:37 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-05-07 11:36:40 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2020-10-16 12:29:14 Tremona (song?)

♫ 2020-04-12 12:09:53 Mesikon (song?)

♫ 2020-07-01 07:58:29 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-01-03 07:06:12 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-06-18 11:47:47 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2019-06-04 12:36:07 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-22 05:27:42 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2024-04-08 05:36:18

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2026-02-26 08:38:10

Source: Zoom H2n Staldenweiher (song)

♫ 2025-09-06 15:12:00 Hirzli (call)

♫ 2021-02-25 10:15:19 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2026-02-24 15:56:58

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2020-10-15 18:56:45 Besazio (song?)

♫ 2024-05-01 05:05:36

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2026-02-26 09:25:00 Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2020-10-22 13:59:00 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2023-02-11 08:36:00 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-23 08:50:21 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-06-27 16:40:53 Alpweg (call)

♫ 2020-05-19 15:22:53 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-09-14 10:27:13 Levanto (song?)

♫ 2020-09-14 10:26:46 Levanto (song?)

♫ 2024-10-31 17:13:00 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-05-07 12:06:13 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ (call)

♫ 2026-02-26 09:38:16

Source: Zoom H2n Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2026-04-29 17:59:18

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2024-03-22 06:15:12

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (song?)

Black cap warbler / Mönchsgrasmücke (Sylvia atricapilla)

Also known as: Eurasian blackcap, Eurasian blackcap

Description

Classification: Genus Sylvia (Sylvia); Subfamily Sylviinae (Sylviinae); Family Old world warblers (Sylviidae)
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 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.

♫ (call)

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

♫ Switzerland (alarm call)

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: high (3-9 KHz), Special sounds: sputter/pebble-clatter.
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-04-19 07:02:32 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-06-24 07:23:37 Trying to compete with Boris the boring blackbird, he sang a similar song for an hour this morning Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-06-13 12:06:32

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2020-06-14 18:04:28 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2020-07-01 08:07:00 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2026-03-28 13:33:00 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-04-16 08:14:00 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2025-06-01 11:30:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-04-06 16:03:49 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-05-29 06:00:00 Merlin suggested additional birds: Mauersegler, Amsel, Mönchsgrasmücke, Türkentaube.

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Levanto (song?)

♫ 2021-07-06 07:44:11 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-03-31 08:19:11 Fehraltorf (song?)✔

♫ 2024-05-20 08:38:44

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Klingnauer Stausee (man-made lake) (song?)

♫ 2021-04-01 12:10:39 Lugano (song?)

♫ 2026-05-24 20:42:00

Source: Zoom H2n Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2020-04-13 06:19:02 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-05-29 06:03:46

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Levanto (song?)

♫ 2020-06-22 10:47:24 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-30 06:21:41 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-05-29 07:06:42 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-04-13 08:07:48

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2021-05-04 09:44:44 Flachsee am Reuss (song?)

♫ 2026-04-30 10:32:32

Source: Zoom H2n Flachsee am Reuss (song?)

♫ 2020-05-26 17:41:43 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2021-07-04 08:24:14 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-04-01 14:49:57 Lugano (song?)

♫ 2020-04-15 07:55:02 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-15 07:57:04 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-03-17 11:59:56

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song)

♫ 2020-04-25 09:26:15 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-13 08:09:22 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 15:32:46

Source: Zoom H2n Pfaeffikon (song?)

♫ 2021-04-01 12:12:47 Lugano (song?)

♫ 2025-05-08 17:40:34

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (call)

♫ 2020-05-03 07:21:53 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-03-08 08:26:00 Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2025-05-14 15:35:00 Pfaeffikon (song?)

♫ 2021-04-01 12:11:55 Lugano (song?)

♫ 2025-03-22 13:04:56

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-04-24 09:24:52

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-04-27 14:14:50 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-05-04 05:27:00 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 16:18:00 Wetzikon (song?)

♫ 2023-03-10 09:24:10

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Madeira (song)

♫ 2023-07-01 05:15:38

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2023-06-19 07:07:05

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Bolle di Magadino (song?)

♫ 2025-04-21 11:58:34

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-06-18 08:58:20 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2025-04-21 11:47:32

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song)

♫ 2025-09-01 12:26:00 Switzerland (call)

♫ 2025-10-07 09:08:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-03-23 08:14:00 Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2021-06-27 07:46:02 Wildhaus (song?)

♫ 2020-04-29 14:18:03 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-04-21 09:17:26

Source: Zoom H2n Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge (call)

♫ 2024-05-20 09:08:40

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Klingnauer Stausee (man-made lake) (song?)

♫ 2021-07-20 15:37:13 Weisslingen (call)

♫ 2025-05-14 15:34:20

Source: Zoom H2n Pfaeffikon (song?)

♫ 2021-05-04 08:23:59 Flachsee am Reuss (song?)

♫ 2021-06-03 11:52:14 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-04-24 10:12:00

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-06-27 15:45:41 Luppmen (call)

♫ 2025-04-24 09:15:02

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (call)

♫ 2026-04-28 15:13:38

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song)

♫ 2023-03-11 11:56:08

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Madeira (song)

♫ 2025-04-03 08:57:12

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2021-05-09 05:32:15 Muralto (song?)

♫ 2023-03-11 09:22:24

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Madeira (song)

♫ 2020-05-07 12:19:05 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2020-04-14 08:32:15 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-05-07 13:10:46 Hungerseeli (song)

♫ 2021-05-05 11:12:10 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-04-01 09:22:56 Lugano (song)

♫ 2020-05-10 07:28:15 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-09-06 08:38:00 Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2020-06-03 09:03:17 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2021-08-08 16:14:34 Freudwil (song?)

♫ 2024-05-16 12:13:14

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Kaltbrunner-Riet (song?)

♫ 2025-06-18 09:19:04

Source: Zoom H2n Freudwil (song)

♫ 2020-04-23 10:25:17 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-04-25 13:48:06

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-05-09 16:23:41 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 15:33:14

Source: Zoom H2n Pfaeffikon (song?)

♫ 2020-04-27 14:45:54 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2026-05-23 07:22:32

Source: Zoom H2n La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2025-04-05 09:54:30

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-09-17 09:14:12 Levanto (song?)

♫ 2026-05-03 05:28:04

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2024-07-03 16:58:14

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Lago Maggiore in Italien und der Schweiz (song?)

♫ 2021-04-02 11:59:49 Lugano (song?)

♫ 2024-07-06 07:59:06

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Lago Maggiore in Italien und der Schweiz (call)

♫ 2020-06-28 09:36:51 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-08-31 08:52:00 Wildert Weiher (call)

♫ 2025-05-14 17:15:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2024-07-04 08:15:42

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Italy (song?)

♫ 2023-03-10 17:59:48

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Madeira (song)

♫ 2025-06-01 11:25:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-10-06 08:23:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-05-29 07:33:51 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-06-22 11:26:32 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-17 06:22:43 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-05-16 11:10:18

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Kaltbrunner-Riet (song)

♫ 2021-05-04 08:18:36 Flachsee am Reuss (song?)

♫ 2023-03-11 09:24:46

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Madeira (song)

♫ 2020-06-27 06:19:42 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-08-17 08:15:00 Greater Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2025-06-15 07:40:42

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2021-04-21 07:30:33 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-05-29 08:06:53 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-07-14 15:58:50 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2020-06-16 15:19:10 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2021-05-04 11:11:51 Flachsee am Reuss (song)

♫ 2025-04-24 09:24:52

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2021-08-05 13:08:32 Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2026-03-24 10:20:28

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-06-27 16:22:58 Alpweg (song?)

♫ 2020-04-16 07:40:49 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2025-08-16 07:34:00 Switzerland (call)

♫ 2020-07-06 14:41:19 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-06-22 11:26:32 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-06-09 10:51:51 Sils (song?)

♫ 2020-05-04 07:00:28 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-17 07:25:35 Forsthaus (song?)

♫ 2025-05-08 17:31:04

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2021-05-04 11:11:51 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2023-06-19 08:22:04

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Bolle di Magadino (song)

♫ 2020-05-03 07:21:53 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-04-01 12:11:32 Lugano (song?)

♫ 2024-08-11 15:08:00 Greater Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2024-07-04 08:33:02

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Italy (song?)

♫ 2024-09-08 08:17:00 Wald Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-05-04 05:27:00 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-06-12 14:03:12 Sils (song?)

♫ 2026-04-29 17:59:18

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2026-04-08 17:53:00 Croatia (song?)

Common chiffchaff / Zilpzalp (Phylloscopus collybita)

Also known as: Weidenlaubsänger

Description

Classification: Genus Phylloscopus (Phylloscopus); Family Phylloscopidae (Phylloscopidae)
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.

♫ (contact call)

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 2-4 KHz, Special sounds: whoop.
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-04-06 16:04:05 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-10-05 09:04:33 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2021-08-19 09:10:28 Uznach (song?)

♫ 2020-04-24 06:13:35 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-06-18 09:53:40

Source: Zoom H2n Freudwil (song)

♫ 2025-06-01 11:30:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-04-06 16:03:49 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-09-03 14:55:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2026-03-23 09:49:48

Source: Zoom H2n Magadino (song?)

♫ 2020-10-05 11:31:56 Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2026-05-24 20:42:00

Source: Zoom H2n Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2025-04-13 08:07:48

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-04-23 09:34:02 Forsthaus (song?)

♫ 2020-04-27 13:15:15 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-09-30 16:59:15 Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2025-06-17 08:14:04

Source: Zoom H2n Freudwil (song?)

♫ 2020-05-07 10:17:27 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2024-03-22 06:28:12

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (drumming)

♫ 2025-05-14 15:32:46

Source: Zoom H2n Pfaeffikon (song?)

♫ 2020-04-25 08:22:37 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-07-20 15:09:57 Weisslingen (song?)

♫ 2020-07-13 13:55:01 Hirzli (song?)

♫ 2020-04-23 09:45:13 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-23 09:31:53 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2026-05-22 17:46:34

Source: Zoom H2n La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2021-07-26 11:51:21 Engadin (song?)

♫ 2025-10-31 14:37:00 Wildert (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 15:34:20

Source: Zoom H2n Pfaeffikon (song?)

♫ 2020-04-17 08:20:39 Wald Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-04-23 06:51:41 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-06-09 10:47:23 Sils (song?)

♫ 2025-08-31 14:20:00 Switzerland (call)

♫ 2020-04-17 08:09:58 Wald Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-04-21 12:12:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2024-10-31 13:06:46 Greater Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2020-10-31 09:07:20 Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2025-05-14 15:33:14

Source: Zoom H2n Pfaeffikon (song?)

♫ 2025-08-18 17:32:00 Switzerland (call)

♫ 2020-04-27 13:15:15 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-06-01 11:25:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-05-01 11:58:45 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-10-24 09:31:04 Neeracherried (call)

♫ 2024-03-22 06:18:46

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2019-06-04 11:44:39 Forsthaus (song?)

♫ 2019-06-04 12:36:07 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-16 07:54:44 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2026-03-07 08:33:34

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-05-07 10:20:11 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2024-09-05 15:55:00 Greater Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2025-09-06 15:43:00 Hirzli (song?)

♫ 2021-08-14 07:21:48 Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2025-10-31 14:38:00 Wildert (song?)

♫ 2020-06-27 16:05:47 Alpweg (song?)

♫ 2021-03-23 14:32:35 Wald auf dem Hoenggerberg (song?)

♫ 2024-10-31 13:06:46 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-04-21 12:12:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-04-13 08:02:06

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

Common firecrest / Sommergoldhähnchen (Regulus ignicapilla)

Alternate classification: Regulus ignicapillus, Regulus regulus ignicapillus

Also known as: Firecrest

Description

Classification: Genus Regulus (Regulus); Family Old world warblers (Sylviidae)
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.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-05-09 16:28:08 From the woods near Neschwil. I heard a high song I didn't recognize in an area with very tall evergreen and a few deciduous trees. BirdNet couldn't get a connection to its server, but later in said it was almost certain it was a common firecrest or Sommergoldhähnchen, which was on my list of local birds to be found. Luppmen (song)

♫ 2020-05-09 16:29:09 From the woods near Neschwil Luppmen (song)

♫ 2020-05-09 16:29:31 From the woods near Neschwil Luppmen (song)

♫ 2020-05-09 16:31:51 From the woods near Neschwil Luppmen (song)

♫ (song)

♫ 2020-06-27 15:50:16 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-06-26 11:03:49 Wildhaus (song?)

♫ 2021-04-01 12:12:54 Lugano (song?)

♫ 2020-07-01 07:29:27 Luppmen (song?)

♫ (song)

♫ 2020-05-09 16:31:51 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-03-17 12:05:32

Source: Zoom H2n Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2020-05-09 16:29:31 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2024-10-31 13:40:19 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2021-03-29 11:53:19 Uster (song?)

♫ 2020-06-11 13:14:44 Sils (song?)

♫ 2020-05-09 16:31:51 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-06-11 13:15:07 Sils (song?)

♫ 2020-09-14 09:32:29 Levanto (song?)

♫ 2025-04-15 06:43:36 Switzerland (song?)

Song thrush / Singdrossel (Turdus philomelos)

Description

Classification: Genus Turdus (Turdus); Family Thrushes (Turdidae)
General:

Die Singdrossel (Turdus philomelos) ist eine Vogel art, die zur Familie der Drosseln (Turdidae) und zur Ordnung der Sperlingsvögel (Passeriformes) gehört. Sie ist in der gemäßigten und der borealen Zone der westlichen und zentralen Paläarktis beheimatet und zählt dort zu den häufigen waldbewohnenden Arten. Europäische Vögel überwintern im Mittelmeerraum. Im Südosten Australiens und in Neuseeland wurde sie Mitte des 19. Jahrhunderts als Neubürger (Neozoon) eingeführt. [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel
Vocalization:

Very melodious, varied and a master imitator. Still easily distinguished by its tendency to repeat introductory motives two or more times, and its many high pitched themes. Each phrase is loud and penetrating and the tempo deliberate. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-01 - 07-10
Migration in: 02-10 - 04-20
Migration out: 08-29 - 11-06

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=23 cm, wingspan=33-36 cm, weight=65-100 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: Paced like a blackbird, humorous mix of elements like a nightingale. Huge range, elements from 2-5 KHz, others 6.5-9 KHz. Can sing for up to 50 minutes, and a male may know 100 melodies in its repertoire.
Song:

Klangfarbe ähnlich obiger Art [Amsel], aber jedes Element 2-4mal wiederholt, Pausen zwischen den Phrasen.(klingt oft wie „Philipp“, oder „Judith“) Einzige Drossel unseres Gebietes die diese Wiederholungen macht. Singt oft nicht von Baumspitze aus, sondern aus dem Geäst. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: improvised melodic (mhHL), slow, Frequency: 2-9 KHz Special sounds: swoop Singing season: 02-01 - 07-31 Dawn chorus start: 60 minutes before dawn.
♫ 2026-02-24 16:38:24

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (song)

Calls:

Rufe :“zipp“, oft beim abfliegen. [Link]

Most heard (but easily overlooked) contact call is a dry and very short "zip", sometimes given as a two syllable call "zip-ip". [Link] 1: One or two high chirps followed by long pause of 1-2 seconds
XC389294 song thrush contact call.

♫ (contact call)

2: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC570136 song thrush alarm call.

♫ (alarm call)

XC570138 song thrush alarm call.

♫ (alarm call)

XC918847 - Song Thrush alarm call - Turdus philomelos.

♫ (alarm call)

XC794170 - Song Thrush - Turdus philomelos - alarm call.

♫ (alarm call)

3: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN_VIA_ZOOM
Singdrossel, trommeln, Gartenbaumläufer 5-noter.

♫ 2024-03-22 06:44:18

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (drumming)

Singdrossel Gesang, Tannenmeise Gesang, Buntspecht trommeln, Rabenkraeue Rufe.

♫ 2026-02-24 16:11:26

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (drumming)

Singdrossel, Kohlmeise, Sumpfmeise oder Tannenmeise, Trommeln von Buntspecht oder Schwarzspecht.

♫ 2025-03-04 09:26:58

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Switzerland (drumming)

100 Sekunden von Singdrossel-Gesang, um 4 und 18 usw Sekunden Trommeln eines Buntspechts.

♫ 2025-03-09 09:09:08

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (drumming)

Call attributes: contact call Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 7-10 KHz,
Details

Wikipedia eBird Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-04-24 10:31:19 Pfäffikersee (song?)

♫ 2020-04-22 18:08:18 Wald bei Speck (song?)

♫ 2020-06-27 15:59:50 Alpweg (song?)

♫ 2026-02-28 08:46:20

Source: Zoom H2n Wildert (song?)

♫ 2020-07-01 08:18:50 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2026-03-07 08:38:42

Source: Zoom H2n Gsangweg (song?)

♫ 2025-03-09 09:14:50

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-05-29 08:09:41 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2020-05-26 17:34:26 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2021-04-21 08:37:16 Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2020-06-03 09:55:53 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2021-04-21 09:17:55 Pfäffikersee (song)

♫ 2020-07-10 15:24:27 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2024-05-13 07:36:00 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-06-27 16:56:26 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2026-02-26 08:21:06

Source: Zoom H2n Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2020-05-29 08:08:30 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2020-04-27 13:15:15 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-03-05 18:17:52

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Switzerland (song)

♫ 2020-04-22 18:07:17 Wald bei Speck (song)

♫ 2025-04-27 15:40:36

Source: Zoom H2n Bolle di Magadino (song?)

♫ 2020-05-18 05:05:15 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2026-03-07 07:54:40

Source: Zoom H2n Gsangweg (song?)

♫ 2026-02-28 09:13:00

Source: Zoom H2n Wildert (song?)

♫ 2026-02-28 09:15:14

Source: Zoom H2n Wildert (song?)

♫ 2025-06-17 08:14:04

Source: Zoom H2n Freudwil (song)

♫ 2025-03-04 09:25:21

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (drumming)

♫ 2020-06-27 15:58:42 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2023-02-22 17:02:58

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-07-10 15:24:41 Bauma (song?)

♫ 2024-06-13 15:06:14

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2025-03-04 08:28:51

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2021-06-27 07:34:49 Wildhaus (song?)

♫ 2020-05-18 04:58:42 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2020-04-24 10:30:14 Pfäffikersee (song)

♫ 2020-05-26 17:55:33 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2020-04-25 07:49:38 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2021-03-29 10:43:28 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2021-04-21 09:15:21 Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2025-06-18 09:34:50

Source: Zoom H2n Freudwil (song)

♫ 2023-02-22 17:33:58

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2026-02-24 16:09:52

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2023-06-13 12:53:22

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Wald bei Speck (song)

Sorry, file too big!
♫ 2026-02-26 08:48:42

Source: Zoom H2n Staldenweiher (call)

♫ 2020-04-24 10:29:08 Pfäffikersee (song)

♫ 2026-02-26 08:42:44

Source: Zoom H2n Staldenweiher (song)

♫ 2024-07-01 17:39:08

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2026-03-07 08:00:16

Source: Zoom H2n Gsangweg (song?)

♫ 2020-05-26 17:55:23 Hungerseeli (song)

♫ 2020-04-27 13:15:15 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-03-09 10:11:42

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2023-02-22 17:13:54

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2026-02-26 09:17:52

Source: Zoom H2n Staldenweiher (call)

♫ 2020-06-03 09:55:41 Hungerseeli (song)

♫ 2020-05-26 17:58:59 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ (song)

♫ 2020-04-25 07:35:33 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2020-04-25 07:49:38 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2026-03-07 09:04:16

Source: Zoom H2n Gsangweg (song?)

♫ 2020-04-25 07:38:13 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2021-05-04 11:11:51 Flachsee am Reuss (song)

♫ 2023-02-22 18:26:52

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-05-07 11:17:30 Hungerseeli (song)

♫ 2026-02-26 08:38:10

Source: Zoom H2n Staldenweiher (song)

♫ 2020-04-22 18:08:07 Wald bei Speck (song)

♫ 2024-05-13 07:39:38

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2026-02-28 08:51:28

Source: Zoom H2n Wildert (song?)

♫ 2025-06-28 14:11:44

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song)

♫ 2023-02-22 18:23:34

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2026-03-07 08:33:34

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-03-04 08:39:02

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2020-04-27 13:35:19 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2021-06-27 06:46:25 Wildhaus (song)

♫ 2020-04-25 07:36:04 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2023-06-19 08:22:04

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Bolle di Magadino (song)

♫ 2020-07-01 08:18:50 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2021-04-21 09:23:14 Pfäffikersee (song)

♫ 2021-04-21 08:26:17 Fehraltorf (song)

♫ (song)

♫ 2026-04-29 17:59:18

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

Goldcrest / Wintergoldhähnchen (Regulus regulus)

Description

Classification: Genus Regulus (Regulus); Family Old world warblers (Sylviidae)
General: 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

Video

Goldcrest feeding near the Pragelpass

Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ (song)

♫ Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-10-22 15:48:07 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-10-30 15:36:56 Pfaeffikon (song?)

♫ 2020-11-02 14:38:27 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-10-22 15:30:27 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2021-02-20 12:46:15 Adelboden (song?)

♫ 2025-10-16 14:27:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2021-08-14 09:22:44 (song?)

♫ 2024-06-13 14:50:20

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2020-07-31 12:05:15 Pragelpass (song?)

♫ 2024-09-08 08:09:00 Wald Fehraltorf (call)

♫ (song)

♫ 2025-08-12 09:33:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2024-05-13 07:49:00 Wald Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2024-12-18 13:38:00 Wildert Weiher (song?)

♫ 2024-11-01 06:42:53 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-10-30 13:41:29 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-09-06 14:37:00 Switzerland (call)

♫ 2025-02-03 15:23:00 Switzerland (song)

♫ 2025-10-31 15:41:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2021-08-14 09:54:33 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-07-31 12:07:10 Pragelpass (song?)

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

♫ 2025-02-03 15:21:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-07-13 11:26:51 Niederurnen (song?)

♫ 2025-02-08 11:28:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2021-02-20 12:45:34 Adelboden (song?)

♫ 2025-08-31 11:56:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2021-02-21 12:51:19 Adelboden (song?)

Top Ten on the Luppmen:

General: These are the 10 most common birds in my observations at home. Common blackbird / Amsel (Turdus merula) See above House sparrow / Haussperling (Passer domesticus) See above Great tit / Kohlmeise (Parus major) See above European robin / Rotkehlchen (Erithacus rubecula) See above Black cap warbler / Mönchsgrasmücke (Sylvia atricapilla) See above Common chiffchaff / Zilpzalp (Phylloscopus collybita) See above

Black redstart / Hausrotschwanz (Phoenicurus ochruros)

Description

Classification: Genus Phoenicurus (Phoenicurus); Family Old world flycatchers (Muscicapidae)
General: Look for them in a treetop or the peak of a roof - they like to be heard and don't mind being seen.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel
Etymology:

The English name Redstart intrigued me. According to Wikipedia, it comes from Middle English stert meaning tail, so it's a redtail, which makes sense. As to black, they often look rather gray to me. [Link]
Vocalization:

Der Hausrotschwanz singt besonders früh am Morgen, oft schon über eine Stunde vor Sonnenaufgang, und zählt zu den ersten Sängern im Vogelkonzert . Die Hauptsangsaison liegt zwischen Mitte März und Juli, wobei er im September und Oktober auch im Herbst noch einmal lautstark sein Revier markiert. Wann und wo singt er? Tageszeit: Sehr früh morgens (oft 60-80 Min. vor Sonnenaufgang) und vereinzelt abends. Jahreszeit: März bis Juli, erneuter Gesang im September/Oktober. Ort: Männchen singen von erhöhten Sitzwarten wie Dachgiebeln, Schornsteinen, Antennen oder Baumwipfeln. [Link]

Next part is rather unique, and sounds as if shaking a handful of gravel. The phrase then usually closes with a couple of trills. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-11 - 08-18
Migration in: 02-20 - 04-20
Migration out: 08-29 - 11-15

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=14 cm, wingspan=23-26 cm, weight=13-19 g
Habitats: Settlement

Vocalisation

Song: The song is two parts and unvarying. If it were a pop song, you'd call it ABABAB... The second part starts with a sputtering trill. The RSPB in the UK says 'warble with crackling trills.' Vogelwarte.ch says 'Der gepresst knirschende Gesang setzt meist lange vor Sonnenaufgang ein und ist der Auftakt für das Vogelkonzert.' BirdLife-Zuerich.ch says 'Einziger Sänger morgens um drei in den Häuserschluchten'. Obwohl NABU.de meint, sie singen nicht mehr nach Juli, war ich angenehm überrascht sie in Oktober im Tessin zu hören.
Song: Einige Arten wie der Hausrotschwanz singen zudem im Herbst, bevor sie in ihr Winterquartier ziehen. Die Männchen legen dann ihre Reviere bereits «provisorisch» fest. [Link]

Am Morgen der erste Sänger: Kurzes dreiteiliges Liedchen, meist von Warte aus gesungen. Mittelstück aus rauen gequetschten Tönen. (als ob kurz die Stimme verloren) [Link]

Song consists of three parts and is distinct if heard well. It opens with some clear notes that may form a trill, which are then followed by a pause. The "gravel-part" does not carry as far as the rest of the song. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: stereotype melodic, slow, Frequency: high (3-9 KHz) Special sounds: churr Singing season: 03-01 - 07-31 Dawn chorus start: 70 minutes before dawn.
Calls:

„hüid-tze“ das tze deutlich tiefer. [Link]

Alarm call is a chat-like alternation between short, high-pitched "wit" sounds, and series of hard and dry "teck". [Link] 1: XC560014 matches exactly what BirdID describes: 'Alarm call is a chat-like alternation between short, high-pitched "wit" sounds, and series of hard and dry "teck".' The high-pitched call I heard recently was between 5 and 6 KHz, which could help to distinguish between other birds with a deeper voice. The whooping call is sometimes listed as an alarm call.
XC657510 - Black Redstart - Phönicurus ochruros - call.

♫ (call)

XC560014 black redstart call.

♫ Very high notes. (call)

2: Begging call sputters
XC567747-Black Redstart begging call.

♫ (begging call)

Call attributes: alarm call Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 4-5 KHz, Special sounds: whoop, sputter/pebble-clatter.
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-04-23 11:18:50 Tennisklub, Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-04-11 08:03:18 Aberhalden fluids (song?)

♫ 2020-04-17 06:02:41 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-06-01 07:01:28 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-13 06:18:50 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-17 13:21:58 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2024-10-31 13:07:15 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-07-25 09:31:38 Luppmen (song?)

♫ Italy (song)

♫ 2020-06-12 13:01:08 Sils (song?)

♫ 2020-04-18 07:24:56 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-23 11:20:27 Tennisklub, Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-05-04 05:27:00 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-09 06:51:07 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-15 07:28:14 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-03-29 16:50:18 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2021-08-09 07:51:24 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2021-08-22 09:53:21 (call)

♫ 2021-08-29 08:24:41 Luppmen (song?)

Sorry, file too big!
♫ 2023-03-22 09:11:00 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2021-08-08 16:14:06 Uster (song?)

♫ 2024-10-31 13:06:46 Greater Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2020-04-13 08:26:58 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-06-19 08:01:18

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2020-06-12 13:44:20 Sils (song?)

♫ 2020-05-01 09:15:08 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-04-28 07:30:06

Source: Zoom H2n Locarno (song?)

♫ 2024-05-15 05:27:28

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Luppmen (song)

♫ 2021-08-22 09:52:02 (song?)

♫ 2024-08-07 14:17:00 Betlis (call)

♫ 2024-06-18 08:04:42

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-06-12 19:00:48 Sils (song?)

♫ 2024-06-16 08:17:26

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Greater Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2025-04-01 10:18:28

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-04-22 05:44:09 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-18 07:24:50 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-13 06:15:47 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-13 07:12:03 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-06-19 08:02:32

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2020-06-13 18:25:37 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2020-05-04 05:27:00 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-06-05 09:07:38 (song?)

Eurasian blue tit / Blaumeise (Cyanistes caeruleus)

Alternate classification: Parus caeruleus, Parus caeruleus

Also known as: Blue tit

Description

Classification: Genus Cyanistes (Cyanistes); Family Titmice (Paridae)
General: Ich habe das erste mal eine Blaumeise bei uns daheim erkannt in April 2020, eine junge erst Juni 2020, und den Unterschied zwischen Jugendkleid und Schlicht/Prachtkleid erst in Juli 2021 kennengelertn.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Personal notes: In How to be a Bad Birdwatcher, Simon Barnes nicely explains hierarchies in feeding groups and how niches prevent blue tits from being starved by the larger, more dominant great tits. Normally they forage differently, he says, and at feeders it's simply clear to both that the great tit goes first. However in May 2021, we watched a blue tit repeatedly chase off a great tit that landed at the feeder where he was already enjoying some sunflower seeds! There are always exceptions to the rules!

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-01 - 07-29
Migration in: 03-01 - 05-10
Migration out: 08-29 - 11-06

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=11 cm, wingspan=17-20 cm, weight=9-12 g
Habitats: Settlement
Social groups can include up to 12 members. Can appear in social groups with other species: Great tit.

Vocalisation

Song: General: High-pitched, often descending (hhll), occasionally ascending. "Christina compares it to a ping-pong ball dropping.
[In Januar singt die Kohlmeise als erster Vogel in Deutschland], dann kommt die Blaumeise dazu.
Song:

Song: Characteristic, clear, high-pitched, vibrating call. Usually introduced by a couple of accenting syllables, followed by ringing vibrating notes: "ti ti chuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhu". [Link] Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic (h ll), slow, Frequency: 3-9 KHz Special sounds: trill Singing season: 01-01 - 06-30 Dawn chorus start: 35 minutes before dawn.
♫ 2025-03-17 12:55:34

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2025-03-29 10:19:00 Switzerland (song)

♫ 2025-03-17 12:19:07

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (song)

Calls:

Scolding alarm call: "tee-tee-tee-chirruwitt" similar to Great Tit. [Link] 1: Low-high-high, with lightly raspy start, rather high.
XC574294 blaumeise call.

♫ (call)

2: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN_VIA_ZOOM
Kleine Blaumeisen machen Bettelrufe vom Haus an unserem Balkon, am Schluss hört auch mal einen Erwachsenen.

♫ 2026-05-16 13:53:30

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (begging call)

XC581312 blaumeise begging call.

♫ (begging call)

Call attributes: Call melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: high (3-9 KHz),
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-04-15 17:58:14 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2024-10-31 13:17:41 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-04-21 22:02:57 Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2021-05-10 06:29:32 Muralto (song?)

♫ 2025-04-24 10:20:18

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-04-22 06:22:20 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-06-01 11:30:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-04-13 06:32:07 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-24 10:19:09 Pfäffikersee (song?)

♫ 2020-10-28 07:38:00 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2021-04-22 09:24:42 Pfäffikersee (song?)

♫ 2025-04-13 08:07:48

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-04-25 09:26:15 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-01-12 08:27:00 Fehraltorf (song)

♫ (song?)

♫ 2020-10-28 07:48:05 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-04-15 17:58:14 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2026-02-28 09:13:00

Source: Zoom H2n Wildert (song?)

♫ 2023-06-19 07:07:05

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Bolle di Magadino (song?)

♫ 2025-04-25 13:42:28

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-04-23 06:49:59 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-23 06:17:05 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2024-09-14 09:21:00 Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge (call)

♫ 2021-04-08 15:19:08 Gambarogno (song)

♫ 2025-05-16 19:42:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-02-08 11:38:00 Jona (song?)

♫ 2020-04-16 15:31:28 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-05-18 17:38:40 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-04-19 05:53:46 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-04-16 15:29:05 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-09-05 09:39:00 Greater Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2021-08-09 08:20:56 Luppmen (contact call)

♫ 2020-06-22 10:57:35 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-13 06:32:15 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-23 06:15:39 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-18 07:29:12 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-04-02 15:57:24 Lugano (song?)

♫ 2025-03-17 12:19:02

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2024-06-16 07:52:16

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2024-04-08 05:36:18

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2026-04-30 07:29:06

Source: Zoom H2n Flachsee am Reuss (song?)

♫ 2020-06-22 11:01:11 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2023-02-11 08:36:00 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-08-17 09:20:00 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

Eurasian magpie / Elster (Pica pica)

Alternate classification: Corvus pica

Description

Classification: Genus Magpies (Pica); Family Corvidae (Corvidae)
General: Very common in Fehraltorf. Monogamous. Clever. Female larger than male!
General: In trees, on roofs or the lawn - frequently underway and too big to hide.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel
Habitat:

In den 1950er-Jahren sind die Elstern in unsere Städte eingezogen. Zu der Zeit veränderte sich ihr natürlicher Lebensraum. Offene Kulturlandschaften mit Gebüsch und hohen Bäumen verschwanden zunehmend, und in Gebieten mit intensiv genutztem Ackerland fanden die Elstern weder genügend Brutplätze noch ausreichend Nahrung. Dabei haben die Fast-Allesfresser vielfältige Vorlieben. Sie laben sich an Insekten, Reptilien, Amphibien, sie fressen überfahrene Tiere am Strassenrand, und vor allem im Spätsommer ernähren sie sich oft vegetarisch von Früchten und Samen. [Elstern sind besser als ihr Ruf]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=44-46 cm, wingspan=52-60 cm, weight=182-272 g
Habitats: Settlement

Vocalisation

Song: Familiar rattle
Song:

Rich repertoire includes soft and surprisingly varied sub-song. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: non-musical, slow, Frequency: low (1-3 KHz) Special sounds: rattle
Calls:

Most notable sound a harsh, chattering "chechechecheche" used as warning call, or when mobbing predators. [Link] 1:
XC772901 - Eurasian Magpie - Pica pica - rattling call, recorded in Belgium.

♫ (call)

2: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN
Elster, wahrscheinlich Bettelrufe der jungen.

♫ 2024-07-25 11:24:00 Greater Fehraltorf (begging call)

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz), Special sounds: rasp.
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-04-18 07:34:10 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-12-18 13:57:00 Wildert Weiher (song?)

♫ 2020-04-18 07:36:49 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-10-08 14:53:05 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-05-17 08:15:23 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-07-15 14:53:00 Greater Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2024-07-15 15:01:00 Greater Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2020-05-04 06:28:53 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-02-20 11:26:48 Adelboden (song?)

♫ 2024-07-17 10:40:56

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Luppmen (call)

♫ 2020-05-17 08:04:55 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-10-31 16:38:54 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2024-08-31 08:35:00 Wildert Weiher (call)

♫ 2023-02-16 11:23:00 Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2020-04-18 07:36:49 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-06-16 08:25:14

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Greater Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2025-06-14 21:09:00 (call)

♫ 2020-10-01 10:20:40 Uster (song?)

♫ 2023-02-21 11:24:00 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2021-02-19 10:28:01 Adelboden (song?)

♫ 2020-04-30 07:14:05 Luppmen (song?)

Common wood pigeon / Ringeltaube (Columba palumbus)

Also known as: Common woodpigeon, Common wood-pigeon, Wood pigeon

Description

Classification: Genus Columba (Columba); Family Pigeons (Columbidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-01 - 10-25

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=40-42 cm, wingspan=75-80 cm, weight=284-614 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song:

Gu-guh-guh-guh guh-gugugu –gu. „ Hansrüdi wo geisch hi, ga Thun, was ga mache, ga Mähl hole, wiviel, es mutt“ [Link]

Song a 5 syllable cooing phrase, with emphasis on first syllable (1.st also higher pitched). Fift syllable functions as an introduction to next phrase. [Link] Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2025-05-30 18:15:00 Switzerland (song)

Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-04-27 13:13:11 BirdNet says wood pigeon, but I normally see collared doves or feral pigeons here. Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-05-30 18:15:00 Switzerland (song)

♫ 2020-04-18 07:32:58 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 15:35:00 Pfaeffikon (song?)

♫ 2025-06-17 08:14:04

Source: Zoom H2n Freudwil (song)

♫ 2020-05-10 15:15:10 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-06-23 18:19:45 Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 17:15:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-06-08 07:33:00 Stromboli (song)

♫ 2020-06-03 08:32:57 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2026-04-29 17:59:18

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

Latecomers:

General: These guys showed up at our place in midsummer 2020

European greenfinch / Grünfink (Chloris chloris)

Alternate classification: Carduelis chloris, Carduelis chloris

Description

Classification: Genus Chloris (Chloris); Subfamily Carduelinae (Carduelinae); Family Fringillidae (Fringillidae)
General: Vogelewarte.ch: Neben Haussperling und Amsel ist er einer der zahlreichsten Vögel der Städte und Dörfer. Ich habe Monate lang nur eins in Pfäffikon gehört, dann ein Schwarm im Fehraltorfer Industriegebiet. Endlich in Juli 2020 ist eine Gruppe zu uns gezogen und entweder im Birkenbaum oder hinter der Kinderkrippe zu hören gewesen. Im Birkenbaum habe ich endlich eins fotografieren können.
General: In Laubbäumen
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-01 - 08-09
Migration in: 02-20 - 04-20
Migration out: 09-28 - 11-15

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=15 cm, wingspan=24-27 cm, weight=17-34 g
Habitats: Settlement

Similar species

Song or calls similar to: Tree pipit.

Vocalisation

Song: General: Sequence of 4-6 rhythmic elements at different pitches. A sort of trill is often start or end of the sequence (can also be a call!), and there are slides.
Song:

Song composed of various sequences of linked sounds, repeated in a vibrating manner; "trrrrrrrrr", "chechechecheche". Sometimes resembles Brambling when making the wheezy "rrrrrrrrr" sound, but differs in being harsher and by "pulling" the pitch downwards (or sometimes upwards) at the end. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: stereotype melodic (h m m), fast, Frequency: 2-7 KHz Special sounds: trill, rasp Singing season: 01-01 - 07-31 Dawn chorus start: 15 minutes before dawn.
♫ 2021-07-31 10:22:32 Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2024-09-09 07:03:00 Greater Fehraltorf (call)

Calls:

Contact call a fairly resonant "chep-chep", resembling Redpoll, but less nasal and with a fuller tone. Also a sharp, drawn, ascending "kooeee", (perhaps not obviously recognized as a finch). [Link] 1: Raspy descending note. XenoCanto submitter of Bavaria called this an alarm call, but it's also called a 'wheeze' and it's part of the song as well.
XC919412 - European Greenfinch - Chloris chloris - alarm call, aka wheeze.

♫ (alarm call)

2: Birdid.no says 'Also a sharp, drawn, ascending "kooeee", (perhaps not obviously recognized as a finch).' You can say that again, listen to zilpzalp-like recording of 31.08.2024
Evtl grünfink whoop call.

♫ 2024-08-31 08:35:00 Wildert Weiher (call)

3: .
XC195946 - Eurasian Wren call - Troglodytes troglodytes.

♫ (call)

XC871583 - European Greenfinch - Chloris chloris - one-note call from a Kelly of Ireland.

♫ (call)

4: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC900345 - European Greenfinch - Chloris chloris - described as flight call.

♫ (flight call)

Call attributes: alarm call Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz), Special sounds: swoop, rasp.
Details Wikipedia eBird Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ (song?)

♫ 2020-05-29 08:28:02 Luppmen (call)

♫ 2020-05-29 08:25:13 Luppmen (song)

♫ (song)

♫ 2024-10-31 13:41:50 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-03-17 12:16:20

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-12-08 10:55:00 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-10-14 07:33:28 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-07-23 08:12:31 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-07-25 08:17:05 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-27 15:19:22 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-05-01 10:12:32 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-07-08 18:42:04 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2019-08-01 10:21:33 Uster (song?)

♫ 2025-06-13 12:46:20

Source: Zoom H2n Wildert (song)

♫ (song?)

♫ 2026-02-23 13:23:56

Source: Zoom H2n Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-07-11 17:49:04 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-06-27 13:03:54

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-09-14 09:21:00 Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge (call)

♫ 2021-03-01 11:28:46 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-07-10 08:25:30 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-08-31 08:35:00 Wildert Weiher (call)

♫ 2020-07-10 19:17:31 Luppmen (song?)

♫ (song?)

♫ 2021-07-03 06:20:43 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-04-19 15:15:36

Source: Zoom H2n Pfäffikersee (song?)

♫ 2024-07-05 10:05:00 Lago Maggiore in Italien und der Schweiz (call)

♫ 2021-08-08 16:14:34 Freudwil (song?)

♫ 2021-08-08 16:14:06 Uster (song?)

♫ (song?)

♫ 2026-05-23 07:22:32

Source: Zoom H2n La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2021-02-21 09:44:38 Adelboden (song?)

♫ (call)

♫ 2020-07-10 08:25:00 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-03-17 12:19:02

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2021-02-12 10:36:43 Jona (song?)

♫ 2021-05-19 15:52:06 La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2024-09-09 07:03:00 Greater Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2024-06-27 13:05:36

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-06-19 08:01:18

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2024-08-06 09:52:10 Greater Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2020-10-22 15:36:57 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-07-23 17:17:00 Wildert (song?)

European goldfinch / Stieglitz (Carduelis carduelis)

Also known as: Distelfink

Description

Classification: Genus Carduelis (Carduelis); Subfamily Carduelinae (Carduelinae); Family Fringillidae (Fringillidae)
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.
♫ (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. (call)

Xeno-Canto recording

♫ Record in Lège-Cap-Ferret, France byStanislas Wroza and described by him as a 'tik' call and a flight call. (flight call)

Call attributes: Call melody: stereotype melodic, fast, Frequency: 2-8 KHz,
Details Wikipedia eBird Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2021-07-28 12:13:33 Engadin (song?)

♫ 2020-05-19 09:24:22 Futtergruppen sind häufig Bahnhof Wetzikon (song?)

♫ 2020-04-27 11:45:23 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-07-20 12:35:49 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-05-29 08:20:42 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-06-12 17:06:00 Switzerland (call)

♫ 2025-05-30 18:15:00 Switzerland (song)

♫ 2021-04-01 12:10:39 Lugano (song?)

♫ 2020-10-08 16:24:57 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-01-20 14:54:00 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2021-07-29 09:10:05 Engadin (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 15:32:46

Source: Zoom H2n Pfaeffikon (song?)

♫ 2020-06-16 15:46:47 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2020-05-19 09:20:08 Wetzikon (song?)

♫ 2022-04-10 14:23:39 (song?)

♫ 2020-07-06 10:47:48 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-10-31 15:14:59 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2024-08-07 14:16:00 Betlis (call)

♫ 2024-09-05 13:08:00 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-03-04 08:28:51

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2024-06-18 10:56:56

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Luppmen (song)

♫ 2025-05-14 15:34:20

Source: Zoom H2n Pfaeffikon (song?)

♫ 2024-06-19 08:17:32

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2025-04-13 08:02:06

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2022-06-22 15:57:54

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Wauwilermoos (song?)

♫ 2024-06-17 12:54:50

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Greater Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2020-04-27 11:49:59 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-07-20 12:33:43 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-09-23 10:07:10 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-08-13 13:01:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2026-03-01 07:52:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-10-27 09:21:57 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-07-26 14:20:35 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-09-25 13:25:39 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-06-13 18:24:16 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 15:33:14

Source: Zoom H2n Pfaeffikon (song?)

♫ 2020-07-01 10:44:53 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-05-20 14:44:24 (song?)

♫ 2025-06-08 07:33:00 Stromboli (song)

♫ 2025-02-08 10:55:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2021-05-13 11:54:34 Muralto (song?)

♫ 2021-08-19 11:38:55 Uznach (song?)

♫ 2025-02-08 10:55:00 Jona (song?)

♫ 2020-07-05 18:20:00 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-07-01 10:44:04 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-06-26 13:50:20 Wildhaus (song?)

♫ 2024-06-19 08:17:32

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2020-07-05 18:25:12 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2022-06-17 08:42:00

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-05-10 08:03:36 Gambarogno (song?)

♫ 2024-08-02 16:46:00 Am Aabach (Robenhausen) (call)

♫ 2024-06-19 08:01:18

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-10-30 14:06:43 Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2024-09-05 13:27:00 Greater Fehraltorf (call)

WANTED: Heard but not seen near Fehraltorf:

Coal tit / Tannenmeise (Periparus ater)

Alternate classification: Parus ater, Parus ater

Description

Classification: Genus Periparus (Periparus); Family Titmice (Paridae)
General: Periparus ater at Xeno-Canto - a small classification fight
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Etymology:

The German Wikipedia page says 'ater' from the genus 'Periparus ater' is Latin for 'düster' meaning dark or even gloomy. [Link]

In German the name means fir tit - so obviously found in woods with many firs [Link]
Appearance and identification: Nabu: Mit ihrem schwarzen Kopf und den weißen Wangen erinnert sie an eine kleine Kohlmeise, jedoch ist die Unterseite der Tannenmeise eher beige statt gelb, und ihr fehlt der dunkle Längsstreifen an der Unterseite. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-01 - 08-09
Migration in: 03-23 - 05-31
Migration out: 08-18 - 10-27

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=11 cm, wingspan=17-21 cm, weight=8-10 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: Higher-pitched than great tit, with more slurs instead of pure notes. Usually 2 or 3 notes in varied order. To me it seems they have a repertoire of songs, like their 'big brothers', the great tits.
Song:

Song: Various repeated motifs, consisting of two to three notes with alternating accents. Slightly similar to Great Tit, but faster, not so metallic and with a less full tone. Can be mistaken for Marsh Tit when singing single or double notes, but tone is softer and notes more clearly separated (if disyllabic). [Link] Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic (lhlhlhl), fast, Frequency: 3-9 KHz Special sounds: slur
♫ 2026-02-24 15:40:02

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2024-08-07 08:17:00 Thon, Schwanden (call)

♫ 2020-12-14 11:41:25 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2023-02-23 17:17:08

Source: Zoom H6/H2n (song)

♫ 2026-02-24 15:56:58

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (call)

Calls:

Call: short soft and clear "piu", first rapidly rising and then falling in pitch. [Link] Typical coal tit calls do a slide between two notes high-low alarm call but simple song-like calls too
XC539352 coal tit 1m04.

♫ (song?)

Call attributes: Call melody: two notes, slow, Frequency: high (3-9 KHz),
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-07-13 13:21:29 Hirzli (song?)

♫ 2020-07-13 13:16:52 Hirzli (song?)

♫ 2020-07-13 13:19:40 Hirzli (song?)

♫ 2020-07-13 13:18:19 Hirzli (song?)

♫ 2020-07-13 13:15:05 Hirzli (song?)

♫ 2020-04-18 17:17:38 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2020-04-19 16:15:59 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-10-22 15:45:25 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-08-31 11:41:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-03-17 12:43:57

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-06-01 11:30:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-03-09 10:00:26

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2024-08-03 11:28:48 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-04-19 16:16:05 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 17:08:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-10-22 15:34:45 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2021-02-20 12:46:15 Adelboden (song?)

♫ 2021-04-21 08:54:48 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-06-11 13:14:06 Sils (song?)

♫ 2020-09-30 17:01:52 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2021-07-25 13:59:48 Sils (song?)

♫ 2020-06-11 13:14:00 Sils (song?)

♫ 2021-03-29 10:54:38 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-11-08 16:02:44 Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2026-02-24 15:36:44

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2026-02-24 16:11:26

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (drumming)

♫ 2024-10-31 13:56:47 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-03-09 10:28:52

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song)

♫ 2025-03-04 09:25:21

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (drumming)

♫ 2025-05-14 17:09:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2024-08-07 08:17:00 Thon, Schwanden (call)

♫ 2026-02-26 08:57:24

Source: Zoom H2n Staldenweiher (call)

♫ 2021-03-29 11:27:53 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-09-06 14:29:00 Hirzli (call)

♫ 2021-02-20 12:46:10 Adelboden (song?)

♫ 2025-04-19 16:26:18

Source: Zoom H2n Wald bei Speck (song?)

♫ 2020-11-08 16:02:06 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2024-08-07 08:17:00 Thon, Schwanden (call)

♫ 2025-03-17 12:44:16

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-03-04 09:26:58

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Switzerland (drumming)

♫ 2023-06-13 12:53:22

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Wald bei Speck (song)

♫ 2020-12-14 11:41:25 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2020-05-09 16:31:51 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-19 16:16:05 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2026-03-07 08:00:16

Source: Zoom H2n Gsangweg (song?)

♫ 2024-05-13 07:49:00 Wald Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-05-09 16:31:51 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-09-06 14:37:00 Switzerland (call)

♫ 2021-04-01 13:35:30 Lugano (song?)

♫ 2020-07-13 13:14:21 Hirzli (song?)

♫ 2024-07-14 12:51:00 Madrid (song?)

♫ 2020-06-14 17:56:23 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2020-09-30 17:06:52 Uster (call)

♫ 2021-04-01 13:38:04 Carona (song?)

♫ 2020-06-09 12:31:06 Sils (song?)

♫ 2020-07-31 11:50:26 Pragelpass (song?)

♫ 2025-03-06 13:47:31

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2026-02-27 15:52:00 Pfäffikersee (song?)

♫ Madrid (song?)

♫ 2021-04-08 12:29:30 Gambarogno (song?)

♫ 2025-10-16 14:03:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-04-18 17:17:20 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2026-04-29 17:59:18

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

Dunnock / Heckenbraunelle (Prunella modularis)

Description

Classification: Genus Prunella (Prunella); Family Sparrows (Passeridae)
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.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, fast, Frequency: 5-7 KHz, Special sounds: swoop.
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ Spain (song)

♫ (song)

♫ 2024-06-25 13:03:09 Mettmenalp, GL (song)

♫ 2021-06-27 12:55:28 Grabs (song?)

♫ 2021-07-20 15:54:39 Weisslingen (call)

♫ 2020-04-16 07:55:09 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2020-04-16 07:54:44 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2020-04-16 07:55:16 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2020-04-16 07:54:44 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ (song)

♫ 2025-10-31 15:09:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ (song?)

European serin / Girlitz (Serinus serinus)

Description

Classification: Genus Canaries (Serinus); Subfamily Carduelinae (Carduelinae); Family Fringillidae (Fringillidae)
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
♫ (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.

♫ (flight call)

Call attributes: flight call Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz),
Details Wikipedia eBird Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-06-14 17:35:58 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2020-06-15 12:12:01 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2020-06-15 12:12:08 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2025-06-01 11:30:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2022-04-10 14:37:37 (song?)

♫ 2020-06-15 11:15:32 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2021-05-14 07:41:37 Muralto (song?)

♫ 2024-04-06 13:00:06

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Hallau (song?)

♫ 2025-06-08 07:57:00 Stromboli (song?)

♫ 2024-05-30 05:38:26

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Levanto (song?)

♫ 2025-06-09 07:15:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2026-04-28 15:13:38

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song)

♫ (song)

♫ 2021-05-10 13:57:56 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2025-06-08 07:33:00 Stromboli (song)

♫ 2021-05-14 13:55:47 Muralto (song?)

♫ 2025-06-08 08:07:00 Switzerland (call)

♫ 2021-05-28 18:15:52 (song?)

♫ 2025-05-25 14:36:00 Switzerland (call)

♫ 2021-05-10 13:58:56 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2025-04-09 17:23:30

Source: Zoom H2n Katzensee (song?)

♫ 2024-06-19 08:01:18

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

WANTED: Neither heard nor seen nor rare:

General: So what's the deal?

Black kite / Schwarzmilan (Milvus migrans)

Alternate classification: Milvus aegyptius

Also known as: Yellow-billed kite, Yellow-billed kite

Description

General: This is on my list of birds to find, as it is supposed to be exist in this area,but I've never identified one. Their call (see Vogelwarte link) is a rapid sequence of whistles, and definitely distinct from that of the red kites. Visually they are harder to tell apart, but if you look closely, it should be clear: the black kite has less of a V in its tail and no big white patch at the wingtips. birdguides.com has a guide to distinguishing black and red kites, and says black are much rarer, but that is not true in Switzerland - Vogelwarte.ch says Switzerland has 2800–3500 red kites and 2000-3000 black kites.
General: Tenatively identified one flying high over Lake Lugano at San Salvatore in Ticino.
General: Often near water.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel
Vocalization:

A piercing, first ascending then descending long "piuuu". Starting as a clear tone then gradually taking on a vibrating character that differs from Red Kite. Also a sharp "kieee -ki- ki-ki". More vocal than Red Kite. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 02-20 - 10-07
Breeding: 04-01 - 07-20
Migration in: 02-20 - 05-21
Migration out: 07-20 - 10-07

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=55-60 cm, wingspan=160-180 cm, weight=630-941 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2021-08-14 09:32:55 (song)

Drei fallende Noten
XC884100 - Black Kite - Milvus migrans - flight call.

♫ (flight call)

Call attributes: flight call Call melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz), Special sounds: swoop.
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2025-04-21 12:12:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-04-21 12:12:00 Switzerland (song?)

WANTED: Otherwise wanted:

Eurasian skylark / Feldlerche (Alauda arvensis)

Also known as: Eurasian sky lark

Description

Classification: Genus Alauda (Alauda); Family Larks (Alaudidae)
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
♫ (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.

♫ (flight call)

XC772869 - Eurasian Skylark - Alauda arvensis - flight call.

♫ (flight call)

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

♫ (flight call)

Call attributes: flight call Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia eBird Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ (song?)

♫ 2022-06-25 08:22:24 Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2022-06-25 08:35:36

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge (song?)

♫ (song?)

♫ 2022-06-25 08:39:30

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2023-07-16 09:40:14

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Neunkirch, Schaffhausen (song?)

♫ 2022-06-25 09:25:21 Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2022-06-25 08:32:30

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge (song?)

♫ (call)

White-throated dipper / Wasseramsel (Cinclus cinclus)

Description

Classification: Genus Cinclus (Cinclus); Family Cinclidae (Cinclidae)
General: I saw a bird in Meride, Ticino in October 2020 on a tree limb that showed three bands of strong colors that I recall as black, white and red-brown. Unfortunately I discovered that my camera battery was dead, so I can only rely on a very shaky memory. I've speculatively identified it as a White-throated Dipper (German Wasseramsel), which are present in that area, though are most expected at water (there's a river nearby though). At least I'll have this bird on my radar now.
General: Expected near rivers and streams.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel, Wintergast

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 02-20 - 07-20
Migration in: 02-01 - 04-01
Migration out: 07-10 - 10-27

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=18 cm, wingspan=25-30 cm, weight=49-84 g
Habitats: Wetland

Vocalisation

Song: Wonderfully weird sequence of chirps, cheeps, growls. Elements often repeated twice. In a quiz, I mistook it for a starling. This recording reminds me of other water songbirds like the Marsh warbler and various reed warblers.
Song:

Song a mid tempo, staccato improvisation on contact call-like sounds. Not unlike a budgerigar. Both sexes sing, the female less melodic and more staccato than the male. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: improvised melodic, fast, Frequency: 1-7 KHz Special sounds: rasp, weird
Calls:

Contact call a short, metallic and explosive "zrreet", often betraying its presence perched among boulders or when flying up and down a stream. [Link] Chirp repeated 1-2s.
XC883371 - White-throated Dipper - Cinclus cinclus - squeaky, rhythmic call.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 4-7 KHz,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ Wonderfully weird sequence of chirps, cheeps, growls with repeated elements. (song?)

♫ Sequence of monotone chirps. At XC it says wing flutter is also audible. (flight call)

Good friends and acquaintances - seen these:

General: These are also to be expected in Fehraltorf according to BirdLife.

Eurasian jay / Eichelhäher (Garrulus glandarius)

Alternate classification: Corvus glandarius

Description

Classification: Genus Garrulus (Garrulus); Family Corvidae (Corvidae)
General: The German name Häher is the English name jay, both being onomatopoeic
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Etymology: Nachahmung des Vogelrufs...mittelhochdeutsch heher [Der deutsche Wortschatz (DSDW.de)]

[22] Viele der Namen sind lautmalerisch und ahmen verschiedene Rufe nach wie Gäckser, Tschäcker, Jägg, Gäbsch oder Gräcke. [Link]
Vocalization:

Large repertoire. Many other social sounds. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-11 - 06-29
Migration in: 04-01 - 06-09
Migration out: 08-29 - 11-06

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=34-35 cm, wingspan=52-58 cm, weight=140-190 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: Harsh crow-like call, or quiet questioning, 'grumbling', or plaintive cries.
Song:

Quiet and varied subsong with mimicry, resembling a small passerine heard from both sexes. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: non-musical, fast, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz) Special sounds: cawing, mimicry
Calls:

Most heard call a short, drawn and very hoarse, raspy sound, often given in quick successions. Also a Buzzard-like, mewing "peeeaaa" (more drawn and less full tone than Siberian Jay). [Link] 1: Typically harsh jay call. I would say a contact call usually means 'Here I am', answered by 'Good, here I am.' Listening to two jays in the Swiss mountains of Toggenburg, it sounded like 'HEY IDIOT, HERE I AM...WHERE THE HECK ARE YOU?' 'WHAT? YOU HAVEN'T FIGURED IT OUT? OF COURSE I'M OVER HERE. PEABRAIN.' On the other hand, anthropomorphism is always dangerous, usually completely wrong approach.
XC536051 Eurasian Jay harsh call 20s.

♫ (call)

2: We saw and heard a jay (Eichelhaeher) at the Pfaeffikersee imitating a common buzzard - very cool.
XC97136 - Eurasian Jay - Garrulus glandarius - imitating common buzzard.

♫ (Imitation of another bird's call)

Source: Zoom H2n Wildert (song?)

♫ 2025-10-31 14:23:00 Wildert (song?)

♫ Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-10-16 13:50:28 Tremona (song?)

♫ 2025-10-31 14:09:00 Wildert (song?)

♫ 2025-05-08 17:40:34

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (call)

♫ 2025-10-06 15:53:00 Switzerland (song)

♫ 2020-05-07 13:14:03 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2020-04-17 08:09:58 Wald Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-04-23 10:53:43 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2026-02-26 08:48:42

Source: Zoom H2n Staldenweiher (call)

♫ 2020-05-07 10:35:45 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ (song)

♫ 2026-03-07 09:04:16

Source: Zoom H2n Gsangweg (song?)

♫ 2021-04-04 08:11:14 Lugano (song?)

♫ 2020-09-14 10:26:01 Levanto (song?)

♫ 2026-02-28 08:51:28

Source: Zoom H2n Wildert (song?)

♫ 2020-10-16 12:00:59 Tremona (song?)

♫ 2020-10-22 15:22:09 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2026-02-24 16:05:42

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2025-02-05 15:23:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-05-08 17:37:00 Wildert (song?)

♫ 2024-09-08 08:17:00 Wald Fehraltorf (song?)

Common starling / Star (Sturnus vulgaris)

Also known as: European_Starling, European starling, European starling, European starling

Description

Classification: Genus Sturnus (Sturnus); Family Starlings (Sturnidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America (introduced), Africa, Asia.
General: Learned on BBC's Winterwatch: the movement of a swarm of starlings is called a murmuration! Check out this this video or even an entire half hour
General: In trees or in the fields by the cows.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel RL 3^[8]
Personal notes: Frequently seen here, for instance by their nests under the eaves of one of the Toblerone houses. Introduced to North America from Europe by Eugene Schieffelin.
Vocalization: Eine der Vogelarten, die gleichzeitig zwei Töne singen kann!
Vocalization:

Among the best of imitators. Mimics birds, animals and mechanical noises. Often makes several sounds at the same time. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-01 - 07-20
Migration in: 01-21 - 04-11
Migration out: 09-07 - 11-26

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=21 cm, wingspan=37-42 cm, weight=60-90 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Vocalisation

Song: I find their individual song amusing, with its (long) whoops and weird noises. As a group, they're just noisy!
Song:

Song a highly varied mix of falling whistles, bill-clappering and various masterful mimicry. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: improvised melodic, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz) Special sounds: whoop, mimicry, weird Singing season: 01-01 - 09-30 Dawn chorus start: 15 minutes before dawn.
Calls:

Other calls; a harsh "chaee" and a short sharp "tink". [Link] I hear this occasionally and really enjoy it - a long rising 'whoop', as I call it', starting low at 1 1/2 KHz and rising to 6 1/2 KHz!
Birdnet 1968 - European Starling long whoop call - 2021-08-23 17-26-09 - European Starling - Fehraltorf.

♫ 2021-08-23 17:26:09 Fehraltorf (call)

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 1-6 KHz, Special sounds: whoop.
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-04-23 08:41:33 Friedliweid (song?)

♫ 2020-04-13 07:52:47 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-13 07:51:54 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-12 12:04:11 Mesikon (song?)

♫ 2025-11-20 16:59:58 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-03-15 09:49:28

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-04-30 09:11:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-11-20 17:01:54 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-06-14 17:56:55 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2020-05-04 06:53:30 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 17:26:00 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2026-04-28 15:13:38

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song)

♫ 2025-01-19 16:33:00

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2026-03-01 07:52:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2021-03-10 09:07:29 Wetzikon (song?)

♫ 2025-02-08 11:38:00 Jona (song?)

♫ 2020-04-19 15:35:25 Russikon (song?)

♫ 2020-04-11 07:57:33 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-03-10 09:08:37 Wetzikon (song?)

♫ 2024-08-31 07:56:00 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2022-03-31 14:02:11 Fehraltorf (song?)

Eurasian wren / Zaunkönig (Troglodytes troglodytes)

Alternate classification: Nannus troglodytes

Description

Classification: Genus Troglodytes (Troglodytes); Subfamily Troglodytinae (Troglodytinae); Family Certhiidae (Certhiidae)
General: The third smallest bird in Switzerland, after the goldcrest and firecrest
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Etymology:

The scientific name is taken from the Greek word "troglodytes" (from trogle a hole, and dyein to creep), meaning "cave-dweller",[4] and refers to its habit of disappearing into cavities or crevices whilst hunting arthropods or to roost. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-11 - 08-18
Migration in: 03-01 - 04-20
Migration out: 08-29 - 11-06

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=9-10 cm, wingspan=13-17 cm, weight=7-12 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: High-pitched, melodic, very variable with many trills and whistles. At least 3 seconds long, switching low to high 6 times or more, always a trill in the mix.
Der deutsche Kalendar für 2025 sagt, sie könnten ab Drei-Königs-Tag singen, d.h. ab 6. Januar. nabu.de sagt ab 1. Februar, Drei-Königs-Tag ist eventuell nur wegen dem Namen Zaunkönig?
Song:

Auffällig laut für den kleinen Vogel. Singt auch im Winter! Schmetternd, mit einem bis zwei Trillern als letztes oder vorletztes Glied. [Link]

Song surprisingly loud. A high-pitched stream of clear notes resembling Robin and Dunnock in timbre. Differs from those in showing frequent shifts in pitch with much larger register than Dunnock, and by the unique, numerous, interspersed long trills. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: improvised melodic, fast, Frequency: high (3-9 KHz) Special sounds: trill Singing season: 02-01 - 07-31 Dawn chorus start: 60 minutes before dawn.
♫ (song)

Calls:

„zerr“ (z-und rr-gleichzeitig) auch durchdringendes „tzr“(Gezetter) [Link]

Warning call a short hard "teck", like banging two rocks together. Often repeated in series when excited to form machine-gun-like "firing". [Link] Sputtery/drippy/trilly repeated notes at 3-8 KHz. June 2022 heard check calls that were distinctly irregularly in their rhythm.
XC195946 - Eurasian Wren call - Troglodytes troglodytes.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 3-8 KHz, Special sounds: sputter/pebble-clatter.
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-06-27 15:59:50 Alpweg (song?)

♫ 2020-04-23 09:58:19 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-03-23 08:25:04

Source: Zoom H2n Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-27 13:31:34 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2026-02-10 09:11:00 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2026-03-07 08:38:42

Source: Zoom H2n Gsangweg (song?)

♫ 2025-02-08 12:41:00 Rapperswil (song?)

♫ 2024-05-20 08:38:44

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Klingnauer Stausee (man-made lake) (song?)

♫ 2025-03-09 09:14:50

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-04-17 08:05:25 Wald Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2021-08-14 09:43:19 Uster (call)

♫ 2019-07-07 11:41:41 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-04-13 08:07:48

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-06-03 09:48:15 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2024-03-22 06:16:30

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2020-06-03 09:47:03 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2020-10-08 15:18:10 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-05-07 10:43:48 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2024-05-13 08:05:00 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2021-02-25 15:48:06 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-03-22 06:28:12

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (drumming)

♫ (song)

♫ 2024-11-01 06:38:22 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2019-06-04 12:36:07 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-03-22 09:08:40

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (drumming)

♫ 2020-11-30 16:56:23 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-06-03 09:48:15 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2023-02-21 12:21:50

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2021-08-14 09:43:19 Uster (call)

♫ 2025-06-17 08:05:30

Source: Zoom H2n Freudwil (song)

♫ 2020-07-01 07:13:26 Alpweg (song?)

♫ 2026-02-26 08:57:24

Source: Zoom H2n Staldenweiher (call)

♫ 2020-11-30 21:40:16 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-06-09 07:15:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-09-06 11:33:00 Hirzli (call)

♫ 2025-03-29 07:03:00 Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2022-06-19 11:48:31 (song?)

♫ 2024-08-07 08:17:00 Thon, Schwanden (call)

♫ 2020-11-30 21:40:29 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2024-06-25 08:38:18

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Mettmenalp, GL (song)

♫ 2023-06-13 12:53:22

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Wald bei Speck (song)

♫ 2025-03-08 08:46:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2021-05-19 07:25:03 Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2025-03-15 09:52:04

Source: Zoom H2n Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-08-03 11:29:30 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2021-07-20 13:59:25 Weisslingen (song?)

♫ 2019-07-07 11:41:41 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-05-07 11:52:49 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2025-06-08 08:07:00 Switzerland (call)

♫ 2020-07-01 07:58:29 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2019-06-04 12:36:07 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-06-04 09:20:32

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-07-14 16:03:00 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-05-10 10:36:53 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2023-02-21 12:23:46

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2020-04-25 08:40:36 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-25 08:12:31 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-25 08:40:36 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-08-31 09:18:00 Wildert (call)

♫ 2024-03-22 06:33:58

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2024-09-08 08:25:00 Wald Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2021-03-29 11:16:16 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-06-03 09:36:53 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2026-05-25 07:39:32

Source: Zoom H2n La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2024-05-13 08:09:34

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-06-27 16:05:47 Alpweg (song?)

♫ 2020-04-27 13:47:52 Luppmen (song?)

♫ (song)

♫ 2025-03-23 07:25:04

Source: Zoom H2n Luppmen (song)

♫ 2023-02-21 12:29:00 Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2024-03-22 06:15:12

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (song?)

Eurasian tree sparrow / Feldsperling (Passer montanus)

Description

Classification: Genus Passer (Passer); Family Sparrows (Passeridae)
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.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz),
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ (song?)

♫ 2024-11-18 08:36:00 Wildert Weiher (call)

♫ 2024-11-01 08:44:45 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-05-20 09:41:57 Pfäffikersee (song?)

♫ 2021-04-29 15:23:40 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-03-19 08:27:00 Switzerland (song?)

Barn swallow / Rauchschwalbe (Hirundo rustica)

Description

Classification: Genus Hirundo (Hirundo); Family Swallows (Hirundinidae)
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.

♫ (flight call)

Call attributes: flight call Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz),
Details Wikipedia A-Z Animals Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2025-08-31 10:48:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-08-18 13:01:00 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-07-23 17:13:00 Wildert (song?)

♫ 2024-09-08 07:37:00 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-05-07 09:43:58 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ (song)

♫ 2025-04-28 07:30:06

Source: Zoom H2n Locarno (song?)

♫ (song)

♫ 2025-08-18 18:05:00 Wildert (song?)

Great spotted woodpecker / Buntspecht (Dendrocopos major)

Alternate classification: Picoides major

Description

Classification: Genus Dendrocopos (Dendrocopos); Family Woodpeckers (Picidae)
General: Most common woodpecker in Switzerland
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel
Vocalization:

It's frequent drumming is easily recognized by its short duration. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-11 - 07-20

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=22-23 cm, wingspan=34-39 cm, weight=70-100 g
Habitats: Forest

Similar species

Song or calls similar to: Ring ouzel.

Vocalisation

Song: Song: Other: ‘Drumming’ is the sound that Great Spotted Woodpeckers make by hammering their bills against dead wood 10-20 times over 2-3 seconds. The sound resonates in the dead wood and can be heard over large distances. This drumming acts as an advert and is used by Great spotted Woodpeckers and other woodpecker species instead of a song. [From the GardenBird web site]
Nabu: Manchmal, bei strahlendem Sonnenschein, fangen die Spechte schon im Dezember an zu trommeln. [NABU Vogel des Jahres 1997]
Call: Nabu: Das bekannteste Geräusch des schwarz-weißen Spechtes ist aber wohl sein kurzes, aber häufiges Trommeln. [Link]

In a sonogram I can see about 13 taps in just over half a second, but you can never distinguish so many. It's short but intense, and the second half trails off, especially contrasted with the constant drumming of the three-toed woodpecker. [[Listen here.]]
Song attributes: Melody: non-musical, fast, Frequency: low (1-3 KHz) Special sounds: drumming Singing season: 01-01 - 06-30
♫ (drumming)

Calls:

Typically it lasts 0.5 seconds, sometimes slightly longer. Contact call frequently hear throughout the year. A short hiccup "kek", sometimes in series. When excited this may escalate into a trill. [Link] 1: General: A chirping (that I couldn't associate in my mind with a woodpecker), repeated at somewhat irregular intervals of about a second
2023: klang in bird-song.ch Quiz wie eine lauter Haussperling
Call: Nabu: Der häufigste Ruf ist ein kurzes und spitzes „kix“. Ist ein Buntspecht aufgebracht, etwa durch einen Artgenossen, kann man ein schnelles Schnarren hören. [Link]
Great spotted woodpecker call

♫ (call)

2: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN_VIA_BIRDNET
Birdnet 1937 - Great Spotted Woodpecker xxxx, also heard drumming - Great Spotted Woodpecker - Fehraltorf.

♫ 2021-08-14 09:57:28 Fehraltorf (drumming)

FOK3 - ein Specht trommelt, welcher war das, ein Buntspecht? Dazu eine Zilzalp, evtl Zaunkönig, und unser Kursleiter, der das Trommeln erklärt.

♫ 2025-03-22 09:08:40

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (drumming)

Trommeln während ein Buntspecht ruft, im Wildert.

♫ 2024-08-31 09:31:25 Wildert (drumming)

Birdnet 1937 - Great spotted woodpecker, heard slow drumming - Not analyzed - Fehraltorf.

♫ 2021-08-14 09:57:28 Fehraltorf (drumming)

♫ 2020-10-08 15:50:47 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2026-03-07 08:38:42

Source: Zoom H2n Gsangweg (song?)

♫ 2025-03-09 10:34:24

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (drumming)

♫ 2021-08-14 09:50:54 Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2020-10-21 15:13:08 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-10-16 14:27:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-10-31 14:09:00 Wildert (song?)

♫ 2020-10-21 15:13:08 I looked for similar calls at XenoCanto for great spotted woodpeckers, red kites and kestrels, since I heard woodpeckers in those woods and saw the kites and kestrels nearby. I was pleased to find that it's a black woodpecker, which I had heard once or twice before but not been able to identify. Oberreitenbachholzweg, Rumlikon (song?)

♫ 2025-10-16 13:58:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-11-08 16:02:44 Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2026-02-24 16:11:26

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (drumming)

♫ 2025-03-04 09:25:21

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (drumming)

♫ 2024-11-18 16:36:37 Wildert (call)

♫ 2025-03-04 09:26:58

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Switzerland (drumming)

♫ 2023-06-13 12:53:22

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Wald bei Speck (song)

♫ 2020-06-22 16:54:04 Luppmen (song?)

♫ (call)

♫ 2026-03-07 08:00:16

Source: Zoom H2n Gsangweg (song?)

♫ 2024-12-18 13:38:00 Wildert Weiher (song?)

♫ 2025-03-09 09:09:08

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (drumming)

♫ 2020-04-12 12:09:34 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2023-02-23 17:17:08

Source: Zoom H6/H2n (song)

♫ 2024-08-31 08:48:00 Wildert (song?)

♫ 2024-12-18 13:29:00 Wildert (song?)

♫ 2020-04-12 12:09:34 Mesikon (song?)

♫ 2025-08-16 08:05:00 (song?)

♫ 2024-08-17 08:33:00 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-01-10 15:03:00 Wildert (song?)

♫ 2020-10-22 15:35:31 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2024-11-18 16:34:00 Wildert Weiher (call)

♫ 2024-08-31 09:23:00 Wildert (call)

♫ 2026-02-27 15:52:00 Pfäffikersee (song?)

♫ 2026-03-07 08:33:34

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2024-09-08 07:52:00 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2024-12-18 14:08:00 Wildert (call)

♫ 2026-04-29 17:59:18

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

White wagtail / Bachstelze (Motacilla alba)

Description

Classification: Genus Motacilla (Motacilla); Family Motacillidae (Motacillidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
General:

The white wagtail (Motacilla alba) is a small passerine bird in the family Motacillidae, which also includes pipits and longclaws. The species breeds in much of Europe and the Asian Palearctic and parts of North Africa. It has a toehold in Alaska as a scarce breeder. It is resident in the mildest parts of its range, but otherwise migrates to Africa. In Ireland and Great Britain, the darker subspecies, the pied wagtail or water wagtail^[2] (M. a. yarrellii) predominates. In total, there are between 9 and 11 subspecies. [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel

Seasonal behavior

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=18 cm, wingspan=25-30 cm, weight=17-25 g
Habitats: Settlement
Interesting behavior: Wags its tail when calling.

Vocalisation

Song: General: Usually just calls. This song is just a few chirpy slurs, sometimes rising-rising-falling.
Song:

Zirpt wie ein Sperling aber weniger Noten. Lh lh lh [Link]
Song:

Song either slow and primitive, consisting of sharp falling notes given by perched birds, or longer fast and energic bursts in excited song-flight. [Link] Song attributes: Mnemnoic: Plaetschert wie ein Bach Melody: stereotype melodic, slow, Frequency: 2-7 KHz
♫ Spain (song)

Calls:

Contact calls short and sharp. Usually with disyllabic, "bouncing" quality, and with each syllable only accented, not clearly separated from the other (see Grey Wagtail). [Link] bird-song.ch: zweisilbig «zilipp» oder einsilbig «zipp»
XC644775 - White Wagtail - Motacilla alba alba - call, recorded in Estonia.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 3-7 KHz,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-04-06 16:19:59 Friedliweid (song?)

♫ 2024-12-17 13:16:00 Pfaeffikon (song?)

♫ Levanto (song?)

♫ 2021-05-19 08:27:01 Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2024-10-31 16:37:38 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2024-07-05 10:05:00 Lago Maggiore in Italien und der Schweiz (call)

♫ 2024-10-31 16:37:38 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-05-16 19:46:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-11-23 12:36:00 Levanto (song?)

♫ 2025-05-05 09:11:00 Switzerland (song?)

Marsh tit / Sumpfmeise (Poecile palustris)

Alternate classification: Parus palustris, Parus palustris

Description

Classification: Genus Poecile (Poecile); Family Titmice (Paridae)
General: I see them occasionally at the Luppmen or our house, but maybe 1% as often as Kohlmeisen and Blaumeisen. BirdNet suggested a Wiesenmeise, but those are rare here and Sumpfmeisen not uncommon according to BirdLife Zurich
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel
Etymology:

Auch Nonnenmeise genannt - weil es auch eine Mönchmeise gibt? [Link]
Vocalization:

Most easily identified by sound. Especially in areas where plumage is less distinct compared to Willow Tit, like in Britain. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-01 - 06-29

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=11 cm, wingspan=18-19 cm, weight=10-13 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: General: Higher-pitched than great tit, sometimes repetitive 1- and 2-note tunes like them, sometimes simple melodies, usually pure, sometimes chirpy or raspy.
Song:

'Song: A simple one or two note call repeated in series. Usually rising slightly in pitch, and with a "liquid" quality.'. [Link]

At bird-song.ch it's hl-rest-hl, or 7-8 2-noter swoops. bird-song.ch names lh-break-hl as a pistjä call and also has a series of 7 or 8 falling 'swoops'. [Link]
Song: Klapperlied - 6-8 Noten 'angeschlagen'
Song:

Klapperlied. Reihe (6-8) weich angeschlagene Töne mittlerer Höhe. Ähnlich der Klappergrasmücke aber weicher. (Sumpf ist weich) Oft auch Rufe wie „psja“ zu hören. Ziemlich scharf u. gepresst. [Link] Song attributes: Mnemnoic: 1-Noter, Sumpf laenger als Kohl Melody: simple rhythmic (hhmmlll), fast, Frequency: 2-10 KHz
♫ (song)

♫ (song)

Calls:

Most typical call an explosive, sneeze-like "pee-choo", starting high-pitched and ending on a lower note.

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file

. [Link] 1: Falling note, relatively long, sometimes repeated - like the pee below without the choo?
Call from Xeno-Canto

♫ (call)

'Swooping' call on the Luppmen

♫ 2020-10-21 08:38:51 Chiffchaff calls go up, marsh tit calls down! Luppmen (song?)

2: BirdID (at Nord U.) says an explosive, sneeze-like "pee-choo",, similar to Blaumeise with clear note followed by rough ones, but hll
Call from Xeno-Canto

♫ (call)

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 6-9 KHz, Special sounds: swoop.
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ (call)

♫ 2020-09-20 14:54:03 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2024-06-27 07:03:00 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-12-05 09:45:33 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-02-05 15:32:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-05-04 06:51:23 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-11-08 14:54:26 Uster (song?)

♫ 2020-09-21 14:37:11 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ (song?)

♫ 2024-12-18 12:39:00 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-03-04 09:26:58

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Switzerland (drumming)

♫ 2023-06-13 12:53:22

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Wald bei Speck (song)

♫ 2021-01-07 12:16:17 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-10-24 15:40:46 Luppmen (call)

♫ 2020-09-02 15:12:11 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-10-31 15:34:05 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ (song)

♫ 2020-05-29 07:37:46 Luppmen (song)

♫ 2020-09-20 14:54:53 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2021-04-04 14:05:46 Carona (song?)

♫ 2024-09-09 08:09:00 Greater Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2024-12-18 12:39:00 Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2020-10-08 15:31:24 Fehraltorf (song)

European nuthatch / Kleiber (Sitta europaea)

Also known as: Eurasian nuthatch

Description

Classification: Genus Sitta (Sitta); Family Sittidae (Sittidae)
General: Maybe 8 or 10 short loud notes, a bit of a whoop on the sonogram
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Etymology:

Der Name bezieht sich darauf, dass der Kleiber den Eingang von Bruthöhlen anderer Vögel, zum Beispiel die von Spechten, mit Lehm verklebt [kleibt], um sie selbst zu nutzen. [Link]
Vocalization: Eurasian Nuthatch is very vocal. [Link]

Very varied voice. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-01 - 07-29

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=14 cm, wingspan=22-27 cm, weight=21-26 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: Song:

Song a simple series of loud notes [Link]
Song: The song is very variable, with rising and falling notes, sometimes with repetition of excitement calls. [Link]

The song is a slow whistled pee-pee-pee with many variants, including a faster version, and may be intermingled with the call. [Link]
Song a simple series of loud notes. [Link]

Song a simple series of loud notes. [Link] Song attributes: Mnemnoic: 6x steigt, wie 6-Buchstaben 'Kleber' Melody: one note (ll), fast, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz) Singing season: 02-01 - 07-31 Dawn chorus start: 10 minutes before dawn.
♫ (song)

Calls: It gives loud calls when excited, an abrupt ‘twit”, only one, or in slow series, but often in phrases of 3-4 notes in rapid succession. But in great excitement, it utters phrases of about ten notes per second! We can also hear some shrill “sirrrr”, becoming harsher in alarm call. The contact call is a thin “tsit” uttered before to take off. [Link]

The Eurasian nuthatch calls frequently, usually with a loud, sharp dwip normally repeated twice, sometimes more often if excited. It has a shrill sirrrr or tsi-si-si alarm call, and a thin tsit pre-flight call. [Link]
Very varied voice. Ranging from very high pitched whistles and melodic resonant calls, to chattering and nasal mocking sounds. Characteristic warning call a hard "check" or "chwit", often in rapid series, like a pebble bouncing on hollow ice. [Link]

Ranging from very high pitched whistles and melodic resonant calls, to chattering and nasal mocking sounds. Characteristic warning call a hard "check" or "chwit", often in rapid series, like a pebble bouncing on hollow ice. [Link] 1: Twit, dwip. A long fast sequence of notes - is it the 'twit' call mentioned above?
Long fast sequence of identical whoops, possibly 'twit' call.

♫ (song?)

Similar to XC423335 but very regular rhythm

♫ Spain (call)

One note, irregular rhythm. A bird calling while moving up a pine tree (says recordist Nick Talbot).

♫ (song?)

2: The Nuthatch whoop call is similar to that of the chaffinch. It repeats it about 4 times.
XC632108 Kleiber whoop Ruf von Albert Noorlander in den Nederlanden.

♫ (call)

3: Tsit. Recordist Stanislav Wroz says flight call.
Flight call in Dampierre-en-Yvelines, Yvelines, Île-de-France. Wikipedia describes a 'thin tsit pre-flight call'.

♫ (flight call)

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, fast, Frequency: 2-3 KHz,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-04-12 12:06:42 Mesikon (song?)

♫ 2021-04-08 11:49:06 Gambarogno (song?)

♫ 2021-07-03 08:05:14 (call)

♫ 2025-08-19 10:20:00 Switzerland (call)

♫ 2026-02-26 09:28:44

Source: Zoom H2n Staldenweiher (song)

♫ 2025-04-13 08:07:48

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2021-07-03 08:18:30 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-03-04 09:20:34

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-04-09 14:22:06

Source: Zoom H2n Katzensee (song?)

♫ 2021-07-03 08:21:45 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2021-04-03 15:13:08 Lugano (song?)

♫ 2020-06-27 15:58:42 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-09-08 08:09:00 Wald Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2022-03-13 14:38:40 (song?)

♫ 2020-05-19 15:49:30 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-04-09 11:44:20 Northern Lago Maggiore (song?)

♫ 2021-04-03 15:22:35 Lugano (song?)

♫ (call)

♫ 2021-04-02 08:41:09 Carona (song?)

♫ 2024-08-31 08:18:00 Wildert Weiher (call)

♫ 2026-02-26 09:17:52

Source: Zoom H2n Staldenweiher (call)

♫ 2024-08-03 18:05:00 (call)

♫ 2021-07-20 15:43:23 Weisslingen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-12 12:06:22 Mesikon (song?)

♫ 2025-06-28 14:11:44

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song)

♫ 2020-04-12 12:06:42 Mesikon (song?)

♫ 2025-03-04 08:39:02

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2021-06-27 06:46:25 Wildhaus (song)

♫ 2021-04-21 09:23:14 Pfäffikersee (song)

♫ 2025-04-13 12:51:50

Source: Zoom H2n Schwändi (song)

Common buzzard / Mäusebussard (Buteo buteo)

Alternate classification: Falco buteo

Also known as: Eurasian buzzard

Description

Classification: Genus Hawks (Buteo); Subfamily Buteoninae (Buteoninae); Family Accipitridae (Accipitridae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
General:

The common buzzard (Buteo buteo) is a medium-to-large bird of prey which has a large range. A member of the genus Buteo, it is a member of the family Accipitridae. The species lives in most of Europe and extends its breeding range across much of the Palearctic as far as the northwestern China (Tien Shan), far western Siberia and northwestern Mongolia.^[1]^[2] Over much of its range, it is a year-round resident. However, buzzards from the colder parts of the Northern Hemisphere as well as those that breed in the eastern part of their range typically migrate south for the northern winter, many journeying as far as South Africa.^[3] The common buzzard is an opportunistic predator that can take a wide variety of prey, but it feeds mostly on small mammals, especially rodents such as voles. It typically hunts from a perch.^[4] Like most accipitrid birds of prey, it builds a nest, typically in trees in this species, and is a devoted parent to a relatively small brood of young.^[2] The common buzzard appears to be the most common diurnal raptor in Europe, as estimates of its total global population run well into the millions.^[2]^[5] [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Vocalization:

Quite vocal. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=51-57 cm, wingspan=113-128 cm, weight=550-1300 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2026-02-24 16:08:50

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (call)

Calls:

Most typical call a wailing, mewing "peeoooo". Quite similar to Rough-legged Buzzard, but the pitch falls more rapidly and is then sustained for the last part of the call. [Link] Klingt ähnlich wie Rotmilan aber kürzer
XC917665 - Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo - call.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: Call melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz), Special sounds: swoop.
Details Wikipedia A-Z Animals Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-04-27 13:26:43 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-04-21 09:06:53 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-05-07 10:28:12 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2020-10-22 16:09:52 Russikon (song?)

♫ 2025-07-18 10:23:00 Switzerland (call)

♫ 2025-08-22 14:30:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-09-04 16:00:25 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2021-07-20 15:22:27 Weisslingen (song?)

Common kestrel / Turmfalke (Falco tinnunculus)

Also known as: Eurasian kestrel

Description

Classification: Genus Falcons (Falco); Family Falconidae (Falconidae)
General: Oft seen in the fields around Fehraltorf, flapping away to stay in place.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-20 - 08-29
Migration in: 02-10 - 05-10
Migration out: 08-18 - 11-15

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=32-35 cm, wingspan=71-80 cm, weight=156-252 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Similar species

Song or calls similar to: Pallid swift.

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2026-04-28 15:13:38

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song)

Calls:

Turmfalke kann auch wie einen Specht tönen, scharf und relativ hoch [Link]

Most common call a fast series of short, high-pitched "ke-ke-ke". Much less raucous than Merlin or Peregrine. [Link] Heard from in the air, about 6 notes per second (do I find them high??)
XC928672 - Common Kestrel - Falco tinnunculus - calls.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, fast, Frequency: 2-7 KHz,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2024-09-08 07:37:00 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2026-04-28 15:13:38

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song)

♫ 2025-02-08 11:34:00 Jona (song?)

♫ 2021-04-21 09:22:14 Pfäffikersee (song?)

Red kite / Rotmilan (Milvus milvus)

Description

Classification: Genus Milvus (Milvus); Subfamily True hawks (Accipitrinae); Family Accipitridae (Accipitridae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL V
Geography:

Very common here in the summer, I've seen up to 30 on a freshly plowed field, and you can seldom look up without seeing one. (You should look closely though, as they'll often circle in the air with buzzards.)They migrate to Spain in the winter, but increasing numbers stay here.Elsewhere in Europe they've been decreasing, while here they've become so successful that young birds have trouble finding a territory of their own. Wikipedia mentions them competing with the black kite, which I've never identified locally, so perhaps that's part of the key to their success. [Link]
Vocalization:

Mainly heard in breeding season. A piercing long whistle, quickly ascending, then descending "piuuu". Often used in movies to give an eerie wildlife mood. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-10 - 07-28
Migration in: 01-20 - 04-30
Migration out: 08-18 - 11-28

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=60-66 cm, wingspan=175-195 cm, weight=800-1300 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2020-05-24 16:56:51 Luppmen (song)

Calls:

Differs from Black Kite in being a clear whistle all the way through the call, without "shivering". Higher pitched than Buzzard, and with less pause between calls. [Link] 1: Etwa vier fallende Noten
XC879195 - Red Kite - Milvus milvus - flight call.

♫ (flight call)

Birdweather-Red Kite flight call,start=0.0.

♫ 2024-08-06 10:05:13 Greater Fehraltorf (flight call)

2: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN
Check if red kite begging calls.

♫ 2021-08-14 10:02:45 (begging call)

White stork / Weissstorch (Ciconia ciconia)

Alternate classification: Ardea ciconia

Description

Classification: Genus Ciconia (Ciconia); Family Storks (Ciconiidae)
General: New as frequent visitor in Fehraltorf area in the 2010's. It actually died out in Switzerland in the 1950's, but has reestablished itself.
General: Either in the fields looking for food, or on a high output like a lamppost (the soccer field has especially high ones) or the chimneys at the RAV/Electrosuisse building or occasinally a rooftop.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel, seltener Jahresvogel RL 3
Vocalization:

Mostly silent. Loud, modulated bill-clattering from both sexes is heard during courtship/display. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 03-12 - 07-29
Migration in: 02-20 - 06-09
Migration out: 07-10 - 10-18

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=100-115 cm, wingspan=155-165 cm, weight=2275-4400 g
Habitats: Wetland

Vocalisation

Song: The famous Klappern.
Song attributes: Melody: non-musical, slow, Frequency: low (1-3 KHz) Special sounds: rattle
No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC878183 - White Stork - Ciconia ciconia ciconia - call, auf Deutsch Klappern.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-05-20 08:50:06 Luppmen (song?)

Grey heron / Graureiher (Ardea cinerea)

Also known as: Gray heron, Fischreiher

Description

Classification: Genus Great herons (Ardea); Family Herons (Ardeidae)
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 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.

♫ (call)

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

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

LBB: little brown birds:

General: In the 2021 Field ornithology class from BirdLife Nicolas Baiker mentioned the nickname LBB for these small brown birds that are hard to distinguish visually.

Willow warbler / Fitis (Phylloscopus trochilus)

Also known as: Fitislaubsänger

Description

Classification: Genus Phylloscopus (Phylloscopus); Family Phylloscopidae (Phylloscopidae)
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

♫ (call)

Call attributes: contact call Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 2-4 KHz, Special sounds: whoop.
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-04-24 10:07:55 Song starts similar to Buchfink / chaffinch Pfäffikersee (song?)

♫ 2021-08-19 09:10:28 Uznach (song?)

♫ 2020-04-24 10:30:05 Pfäffikersee (song?)

♫ 2021-04-22 09:24:42 Pfäffikersee (song?)

♫ 2021-04-22 09:46:27 Pfäffikersee (song?)

♫ (song)

♫ 2024-06-20 19:19:34

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Bannriet, SG (song)

♫ 2021-04-22 09:22:19 Pfäffikersee (song?)

♫ 2021-04-27 17:28:00 Wetzikon (song?)

Black cap warbler / Mönchsgrasmücke (Sylvia atricapilla) See above Common chiffchaff / Zilpzalp (Phylloscopus collybita) See above

Occasional visitors to Fehraltorf and the Luppmen:

General: I've seen these only at particular times of year or on seldom occasions.

Common nightingale / Nachtigall (Luscinia megarhynchos)

Description

Classification: Genus Luscinia (Luscinia); Family Thrushes (Turdidae)
General:

Die Nachtigall (Luscinia megarhynchos) ist eine Vogel art aus der Ordnung der Sperlingsvögel (Passeriformes), Unterordnung Singvögel (Passeres). Nach neueren molekularbiologischen Erkenntnissen zur Phylogenese der Singvögel wird sie heute meist zur Familie der Fliegenschnäpper (Muscicapidae) gestellt. Manchmal findet man sie aber auch heute noch bei den Drosseln (Turdidae) eingeordnet. Die nordöstliche Schwesterart der Nachtigall ist der Sprosser. [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel
Vocalization:

It consists of extremely resonant, full-bodied notes and lacks the, dry, rolling, rattling sounds of T.N. Most distinct species specific sound is the interwoven series of slightly ascending, plaintive notes (0.04 - 0.10 in recording). May mimic Thrush Nightningale!. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-01 - 09-28
Breeding: 05-01 - 07-20
Migration in: 04-01 - 05-21
Migration out: 07-20 - 09-28

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=16 cm, wingspan=23-26 cm, weight=17-24 g
Habitats: Wetland

Vocalisation

Song: Can be a sequence of unrelated weird but musical sounds - trills, churrs, human-like whistles - very amusing.
Song:

The song is the best characteristic to separate it from T. Nightingale. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: improvised melodic, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz) Special sounds: trill, whoop, weird Singing season: 04-15 - 06-30
♫ Spain (song)

Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-04-19 07:09:22 Der Tag ist ja noch fern. Es war die Nachtigall, und nicht die Lerche, Die eben jetzt dein banges Ohr durchdrang; Sie singt des Nachts auf dem Granatbaum dort. Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-19 06:54:11 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-19 06:54:00 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-05-27 14:52:00 Sicily (song?)

♫ 2020-06-18 07:37:32 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2024-05-22 15:11:22

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2021-05-10 12:04:25 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 15:32:46

Source: Zoom H2n Pfaeffikon (song?)

♫ 2021-05-19 07:15:41 Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2025-04-21 11:47:32

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song)

♫ 2026-05-22 17:46:34

Source: Zoom H2n La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2020-06-18 07:37:05 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2021-06-27 06:19:21 Wildhaus (song?)

♫ 2021-05-19 08:11:10 Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 15:34:20

Source: Zoom H2n Pfaeffikon (song?)

♫ 2025-05-16 20:58:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 15:33:14

Source: Zoom H2n Pfaeffikon (song?)

♫ 2026-05-23 07:22:32

Source: Zoom H2n La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2022-05-22 08:09:03 Leuk (song?)

♫ 2024-05-22 15:11:22

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2026-05-24 21:13:56

Source: Zoom H2n La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2020-06-03 08:52:55 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2022-05-22 08:09:03 Leuk (song?)

♫ 2024-05-22 15:11:22

Source: Zoom H6/H2n La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2025-04-21 11:45:14

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

Northern goshawk / Habicht (Accipiter gentilis)

Alternate classification: Falco gentilis

Description

Classification: Genus Accipiter (Accipiter); Subfamily True hawks (Accipitrinae); Family Accipitridae (Accipitridae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
General: A young northern goshawk appeared in a tree on the Bahnhofstrasse in Fehraltorf one snowy January day in 2021.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel
Appearance and identification:

A medium-large raptor in the family Accipitridae, which also includes other extant diurnal raptors, such as eagles, buzzards and harriers. As a species in the genus Accipiter, the goshawk is often considered a "true hawk".[3] The scientific name is Latin; Accipiter is "hawk", from accipere, "to grasp", and gentilis is "noble" or "gentle" because in the Middle Ages only the nobility were permitted to fly goshawks for falconry. [Link]
Vocalization:

Series of short "ke-ke-ke-ke-ke". [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-01 - 07-20

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=48-62 cm, wingspan=135-165 cm, weight=600-2000 g
Habitats: Agricultural
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube

Eurasian sparrowhawk / Sperber (Accipiter nisus)

Alternate classification: Falco nisus

Description

Classification: Genus Accipiter (Accipiter); Subfamily True hawks (Accipitrinae); Family Accipitridae (Accipitridae)
General:

The Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), also known as the northern sparrowhawk or simply the sparrowhawk, is a small bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. Adult male Eurasian sparrowhawks have bluish grey upperparts and orange-barred underparts; females and juveniles are brown above with brown barring below. The female is up to 25% larger than the male – one of the greatest size differences between the sexes in any bird species. Though it is a predator which specialises in catching woodland birds, the Eurasian sparrowhawk can be found in any habitat and often hunts garden birds in towns and cities. Males tend to take smaller birds, including tits, finches, and sparrows; females catch primarily thrushes and starlings, but are capable of killing birds weighing 500 g (18 oz) or more. [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Vocalization:

Series of short "ke-ke-ke-ke-ke", with rising pitch. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 05-01 - 08-09
Migration in: 02-20 - 05-10
Migration out: 08-18 - 11-06

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=28-38 cm, wingspan=55-70 cm, weight=110-342 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song:

Meist in Horstnähe zu hören. Eine Reihe von kurzen Einzellauten, [Link] Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ (call)

Calls:

wie „gigigi“. Ähnlichkeit mit Wendehals, aber klarer und schneller. Schneller auch als Grünspecht und tiefer als Turmfalke. [Link]

Less resonant and less full than similar call of Goshawk, and much faster. Also a short "peeaaaa", shorter and more squeaky than Buzzard. [Link] No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.

Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Redwing / Rotdrossel (Turdus iliacus)

Description

Classification: Genus Turdus (Turdus); Family Thrushes (Turdidae)
General: In Switzerland these are migrants or winter guests that breed in Scandinavia. I saw a group that landed in a tree by the Luppmen. Some sang an odd song that I didn't recognize but unfortunately couldn't record. They were rather nervous and quickly flew off.
General: I had an interesting educational experience with fieldfares! At the end of December 2020 I saw redwings in Fehraltorf for the first time. They're a winter guest that breeds in Scandinavia. Jan 2021 I saw one from our dining room window, and two days later saw 31 of them land in four trees along the Luppmen brook, and spontaneously decided to report them via the eBird app. The next day I got an automated response saying this was an unusually high number, and that I should document the sighting further. I added pictures of the group in the trees pus one of an individual close up. Then I got a nice e-mail from eBird volunteer Raphaël Nussbaumer, an Earth Science PhD and postdoc at the Swiss Ornithological Institute, saying that my redwings were fieldfares. I checked the guide books and apps, and that seemed plausible. I was surprised that none of them mentioned the danger of confusing the two, which are actually quite similar (and related). I checked the closeup I took on December 31 and asked Raphaël if it was actually a redwing, and he confirmed it. So I actually found two (to me) new thrushes within 3 weeks. He noted 'they are often found mixed with fieldfare or mistle thrush, so one has to be careful to check the entire group and not assume that all are redwings. I saw 8 similar looking birds when I saw the actual redwing, and while I think there's more than one redwing there, I can't see the whole flock well enough to be sure.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Appearance and identification:

Vogelwarte.ch describes just what I saw. In translation, somewhat smaller than a song thrush and distinguishable from them by the prominent white stripe above the eye and the rust-red feathers under the wings. [Link]
Seasonal Behavior:

'Regelmässiger Durchzügler, regelmässiger Wintergast', darum nur im Winter in Fehraltorf [Link]
Vocalization:

First a simple, melodic phrase of 3 - 6 notes, usually followed by a more silent, indistinct, fast and less melodic, chattering sequence. First part highly variable from place to place, but constant in individuals. Often causes confusion when a new dialect is heard at a distance, since only the first part is far-reaching, and the diagnostic two-part structure gets lost. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Migration in: 02-10 - 04-20
Migration out: 09-17 - 12-07

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=21 cm, wingspan=33-34 cm, weight=50-75 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song:

Song delivered in two parts. First a simple, melodic phrase of 3 - 6 notes, usually followed by a more silent, indistinct, fast and less melodic, chattering sequence. First part highly variable from place to place, but constant in individuals. [Link]
Song:

Song delivered in two parts. [Link] Song attributes: Mnemnoic: down 6+chattering Melody: stereotype melodic, slow, Frequency: 3-5 KHz
♫ (song)

Calls:

Contact call a thin, drawn and sharp "sreee". Often heard at night during migration. Alarm call harder, dryer and more raucous than other thrushes. [Link] No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC678455 - Redwing - Turdus iliacus - single call.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Lesser spotted woodpecker / Kleinspecht (Dryobates minor)

Alternate classification: Picoides minor, Dendrocopos minor

Description

Classification: Genus Dryobates (Dryobates); Family Woodpeckers (Picidae)
General: Bisher gesehen aber nicht gehört!
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel, Wintergast RL V
Appearance and identification:

The smallest European woodpecker. ... From its small size and its habit of spending most of its time in the tops of tall trees in woods and parks, this little woodpecker is often overlooked, but if sighted on a trunk it may at once be identified by the broad barring on the wings and narrower bars across the lower back. [Link]

Der Kleinspecht ist der Zwerg unter den europäischen Spechten. Er macht sich im Frühjahr mit hohen Rufreihen und gleichmässigen Trommelwirbeln bemerkbar. [Link]
Habitat:

As above: spend(s) most of its time in the tops of tall trees [Link]
Vocalization:

Frequently drums in quite long series. Much longer than Great Spotted, and without ritardando. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-20 - 06-20

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=14-15 cm, wingspan=25-27 cm, weight=17-25 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: Drumming in lieu of song. Fast, constant.
Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic, fast, Frequency: 0-4 KHz Special sounds: drumming
♫ (drumming)

Calls:

Most common call a series of merlin-like "ke-ke-ke-ke-ke-ke" given at fairly stable pitch, and less hoarse than Merlin. Differs from Wryneck in lacking marked rise and fall in pitch, and being less plaintive. [Link] 1: Vogelwarte wie oben..hohe Rufreihen
XC625101 Kleinspecht call.

♫ (call)

2: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.

Call attributes: Call melody: simple rhythmic, fast, Frequency: high (3-9 KHz),
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2025-08-19 11:22:00 Switzerland (call)

Birds seen in Pfäffikon or at the Pfäffikersee that don't occur in Fehraltorf:

General: Mostly these are waterbirds, because Fehraltorf has only a brook and and a small man-made lake while Pfäffikon has the third largest lake in Kanton Zurich, I believe.

Sedge warbler / Schilfrohrsänger (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)

Alternate classification: Motacilla schoenobaenus

Description

Classification: Genus Acrocephalus (Acrocephalus); Subfamily Acrocephalinae (Acrocephalinae); Family Old world warblers (Sylviidae)
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
♫ (song)

Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-05-20 09:50:48 Pfäffikersee (song?)

♫ (song)

♫ 2020-05-20 09:50:48 Pfäffikersee (song?)

♫ 2022-06-04 13:12:44

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Kaltbrunner-Riet (song?)

♫ 2022-06-04 13:18:08

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Kaltbrunner-Riet (song?)

♫ 2022-06-04 12:48:50

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Kaltbrunner-Riet (song?)

Great reed warbler / Drosselrohrsänger (Acrocephalus arundinaceus)

Alternate classification: Turdus arundinaceus

Description

Classification: Genus Acrocephalus (Acrocephalus); Subfamily Acrocephalinae (Acrocephalinae); Family Old world warblers (Sylviidae)
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
♫ (song)

Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-05-20 09:45:29 Pfäffikersee (song?)

♫ 2020-05-20 09:42:29 Pfäffikersee (song?)

♫ 2021-05-20 12:56:21 Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2022-04-12 12:24:14 (song?)

♫ 2022-06-22 16:08:44

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Wauwilermoos (song?)

♫ 2022-06-22 16:39:30

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Wauwilermoos (song?)

♫ 2024-05-16 11:38:48

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Kaltbrunner-Riet (song)

♫ 2023-06-19 07:07:05

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Bolle di Magadino (song?)

♫ 2021-05-10 08:51:46 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2025-05-16 17:33:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-05-20 09:41:57 Pfäffikersee (song?)

♫ 2022-05-21 10:45:00 Leuk and surroundings (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 16:53:16

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-05-16 19:34:00 Switzerland (song)

♫ 2020-05-20 10:01:22 Pfäffikersee (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 16:46:00 Wetzikon (song?)

♫ 2025-05-16 19:46:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 16:50:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2022-05-21 10:45:00 Leuk and surroundings (song?)

♫ 2024-05-22 17:50:10

Source: Zoom H6/H2n La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2024-05-22 17:47:46

Source: Zoom H6/H2n La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2022-06-04 12:09:42 Kaltbrunner-Riet (song?)

♫ 2022-04-12 12:25:06 (song?)

♫ 2026-05-23 08:01:36

Source: Zoom H2n La Sauge (song?)

Eurasian reed warbler / Teichrohrsänger (Acrocephalus scirpaceus)

Alternate classification: Turdus scirpaceus

Also known as: Common reed warbler

Description

Classification: Genus Acrocephalus (Acrocephalus); Subfamily Acrocephalinae (Acrocephalinae); Family Old world warblers (Sylviidae)
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
♫ (song)

Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-04-27 14:29:30 Auslikon (song?)

♫ 2025-05-22 13:40:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2021-10-24 13:12:46

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Neeracherried (song)

♫ 2021-05-04 09:26:55 Flachsee am Reuss (song?)

♫ 2026-05-25 08:15:00

Source: Zoom H2n La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2022-06-19 11:09:06

Source: Zoom H6/H2n (song?)

♫ 2021-05-10 09:22:20 Bolle di Magadino (song?)

♫ 2022-06-04 12:00:35 Kaltbrunner-Riet (song?)

♫ 2021-05-04 07:44:10 Flachsee am Reuss (song?)

♫ 2022-06-19 11:02:05 (song?)

♫ 2020-05-20 09:49:40 Pfäffikersee (song?)

♫ 2024-05-20 08:26:48

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Klingnauer Stausee (man-made lake) (song?)

♫ 2024-05-16 12:09:08

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Kaltbrunner-Riet (song?)

♫ 2026-04-29 17:41:12

Source: Zoom H2n Pfäffikersee (song?)

♫ 2021-05-04 08:14:32 Flachsee am Reuss (song?)

♫ 2025-07-17 12:55:32

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2022-06-24 16:27:01 La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2020-04-27 14:05:35 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-05-04 07:46:29 Flachsee am Reuss (song?)

♫ 2024-06-05 09:34:58

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Pfäffikersee (song)

♫ 2024-05-20 09:07:34

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Klingnauer Stausee (man-made lake) (song?)

♫ 2022-06-19 12:12:50 (song?)

♫ 2026-05-25 08:22:18

Source: Zoom H2n La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2025-05-16 17:28:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2024-05-20 08:25:26

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Klingnauer Stausee (man-made lake) (song?)

♫ 2025-04-21 11:45:14

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-08-05 16:36:13 Wildert (song?)

♫ 2021-05-10 08:50:04 Gambarogno (song?)

♫ 2023-05-29 10:38:26

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2022-06-19 11:07:40

Source: Zoom H6/H2n (song?)

♫ 2025-06-07 12:55:00 Switzerland (song)

Willow warbler / Fitis (Phylloscopus trochilus) See above

Common kingfisher / Eisvogel (Alcedo atthis)

Alternate classification: Gracula atthis

Also known as: Eisvögel

Description

Classification: Genus Alcedo (Alcedo); Family Kingfishers (Alcedinidae)
General: This is a favorite bird in Switzerland. On the one hand it's colorful and very active when seen in its hunting grounds at a waterway; on the other hand, it's seldom seen. Contrast the 400-500 breeding pairs with 400,000-550,000 of the everpresent great tits.
General: An apprentice for the nature center on Lake Pfaeffikon told us a bit about the kingfishers that hunt on a waterway that feeds into the lake. She said they spend the breeding season elsewhere in sandy areas and return to the lake in fall. I've read elsewhere that they watch for fish from convenient waterside branches. A classic motif for a picture is a branch sticking out of the water, and one photographer said he has actually placed a branch there, knowing the kingfisher would not be able to resist.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Etymology: Nabu: Ob der Name des Eisvogels (Alcedo atthis) tatsächlich mit Eis zu tun hat oder das eisblaue Rückengefieder Pate stand, ist strittig. Manche Deutungen leiten den Namen vom althochdeutschen „eisan“ für „schillern“ oder „glänzen“ ab. Der „Schillervogel“ wäre eine gute Beschreibung für das flirrende Farbenspiel, das der Eisvogel im Sitzen und erst recht im Flug bietet. Wieder andere Autoren interpretieren den „Eisvogel“ als „Eisenvogel“ und vermuten einen Bezug auf das stahlblaue Rücken- oder das rostfarbene Bauchgefieder des Eisvogels. [Link]
Seasonal Behavior:

Status (in CH): regelmässiger, spärlicher Brutvogel, Durchzügler und Wintergast. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-01 - 08-09

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=16-17 cm, wingspan=24-26 cm, weight=34-46 g
Habitats: Wetland

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ (song)

Calls:

Wikipedia says 'The common kingfisher has no song. The flight call is a short, sharp whistle chee repeated two or three times. Anxious birds emit a harsh, shrit-it-it and nestlings call for food with a churring noise.' The NABU app only has calls, which seems to confirm this. Therefore I'm classifying all recordings as calls, even though some say Song at Xeno-Canto. [Link]

Most heard is the thin and penetrating contact call: A short "tzee", or disyllabic "tzee-tzu", with a ringing metallic quality. In excitement it is often alternated with ringing trills "tzeerrrrrrrrrr". [Link]
Common kingfisher call from Xeno-Canto, similar to one from NABU app. Fairly high pitched single chirps or occasional high-low pairs.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 5-7 KHz,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ (song?)

♫ 2021-08-22 12:46:21 (song?)

♫ 2025-04-24 09:24:52

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2024-11-09 20:20:26 Greater Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2020-10-08 15:58:38 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-10-12 14:35:44 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2024-09-30 07:56:42 Shenandoah National Park (call)

Wasservögel, am Pfäffikersee, Greifensee, usw.:

General: Die waren das erste Thema im BirdLife-Feldornithologiekurs 2021-2022. Common kingfisher / Eisvogel (Alcedo atthis) See above

Mallard / Stockente (Anas platyrhynchos)

Alternate classification: Anas platyrhynchos f. domestica

Also known as: Northern mallard

Description

Classification: Genus Ducks (Anas); Tribe Dabbling ducks (Anatini); Subfamily Dabbling ducks plus extinct (Anatinae); Family Waterfowl (Anatidae)
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 Wikipedia A-Z Animals Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2021-02-15 09:11:22 Pfaeffikon (song?)

♫ 2026-02-28 08:51:28

Source: Zoom H2n Wildert (song?)

Great crested grebe / Haubentaucher (Podiceps cristatus)

Description

Classification: Genus Podiceps (Podiceps); Family Grebes (Podicipedidae)
General: Exotic looking waterbird common at Pfäffikersee
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Vocalization:

Laughing sequences with nasal grunts, a rolling nasal "treaa" and bill-clattering. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=46-51 cm, wingspan=85-90 cm, weight=568-813 g
Habitats: River and lake

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2021-04-21 10:31:08 Pfäffikersee (song)

No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN
Lützelsee Haubentaucher Bettelruf.

♫ 2024-09-07 18:26:00 Lützelsee (begging call)

Call attributes: begging call Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2024-08-03 11:30:38 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2024-07-31 09:38:00 Kaltbrunner-Riet (song?)

♫ 2022-06-04 13:21:43 Kaltbrunner-Riet (song?)

♫ 2021-04-21 10:29:03 Pfäffikersee (song?)

Eurasian teal / Krickente (Anas crecca)

Alternate classification: Nettion crecca, Anas crecca crecca

Also known as: Common teal, Eurasian green-winged teal, Green-winged teal

Description

Classification: Genus Ducks (Anas); Tribe Dabbling ducks (Anatini); Subfamily Dabbling ducks plus extinct (Anatinae); Family Waterfowl (Anatidae)
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:
♫ (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 Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ (call)

Common goldeneye / Schellente (Bucephala clangula)

Alternate classification: Anas clangula

Description

Classification: Genus Bucephala (Bucephala); Tribe Seaducks (Mergini); Subfamily Dabbling ducks plus extinct (Anatinae); Family Waterfowl (Anatidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL R
Etymology: Nabu: Schellenten verdanken ihren Namen dem pfeifenden und wie ein Klingeln («Schellen») tönenden Fluggeräusch. [Vogelwarte.ch erklärt: ]
Appearance and identification: Grüner Kopf mit gelbem Auge (Goldeneye), weisser Kreis zwischen Auge und (schwarzem) Schnabel, weisser Bauch und Seiten mit etwa 5 dünnen schwarzen Streifen, schwarzer Rücken. In Island gibt's eine sehr ähnliche Ente und in kleineren Mengen auch diese.
Seasonal Behavior: Wintergast am Pfäffikersee.
Vocalization:

Male display sound a dry nasal disyllabic "Ka-weerr". First note introductory and second longer and descending. Usually accompanied by back-throwing head motion. Female: dry harsh "aahrrrr aahrrrr aahrrrr ". Wings make a characteristic whistling sound. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Migration in: 01-01 - 05-21
Migration out: 10-07 - 12-31

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=42-50 cm, wingspan=65-80 cm, weight=650-1200 g
Habitats: River and lake
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube

Northern shoveler / Löffelente (Spatula clypeata)

Alternate classification: Anas clypeata, Anas clypeata (Linnaeus, 1758), Anas clypeata

Description

Classification: Genus Ducks (Anas); Tribe Dabbling ducks (Anatini); Subfamily Dabbling ducks plus extinct (Anatinae); Family Waterfowl (Anatidae)
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 Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube

Gadwall / Schnatterente (Mareca strepera)

Alternate classification: Chaulelasmus streperus, Anas strepera

Description

Classification: Genus Mareca (Mareca); Tribe Dabbling ducks (Anatini); Subfamily Dabbling ducks plus extinct (Anatinae); Family Waterfowl (Anatidae)
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 Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2021-10-24 13:08:14 Neeracherried (song?)

Common pochard / Tafelente (Aythya ferina)

Alternate classification: Anas ferina

Description

Classification: Genus Aythya (Aythya); Tribe Diving ducks (Aythyini); Subfamily Dabbling ducks plus extinct (Anatinae); Family Waterfowl (Anatidae)
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 Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Goosander / Gänsesäger (Mergus merganser)

Also known as: Common merganser

Description

Classification: Genus Mergus (Mergus); Tribe Seaducks (Mergini); Subfamily Dabbling ducks plus extinct (Anatinae); Family Waterfowl (Anatidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General: Zuerst gesehen am Pfäffikersee.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL 2
Vocalization:

Male: Mostly heard when courting. A twanging, disyllabic "whip-ooooo", first syllable ascending and second whistle-like and rapidly falling. Female: A coarse "ahrrr ahrrrr", or a raspy drawn "ah-ahrrrrrr ah-ahrrrrr", slightly rising, then falling in pitch. Also various cackling sounds. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 03-23 - 07-20
Migration in: 01-01 - 04-11
Migration out: 10-27 - 12-31

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=58-66 cm, wingspan=82-97 cm, weight=900-2100 g
Habitats: River and lake

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2021-05-10 09:09:39 Locarno (song)

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

Egyptian goose / Nilgans (Alopochen aegyptiaca)

Alternate classification: Anas aegyptiaca

Also known as: Nilgänse

Description

Classification: Genus Alopochen (Alopochen); Tribe Tadornini (Tadornini); Subfamily Tadorninae (Tadorninae); Subfamily Dabbling ducks plus extinct (Anatinae); Family Waterfowl (Anatidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
General: Wintergast am Greifensee. Invasiv. Nach Vogelwarte.ch: 'als Ziervogel im 18. Jahrhundert in Europa eingeführt... Ausgehend von einer in den 1970er Jahren in den Niederlanden und Belgien gebildeten Population breitete sich die Nilgans rasant dem Rhein und seinen Nebenflüssen entlang aus und hat inzwischen auch die Schweiz erreicht.
General: Deutschland: etabliertes Neozoon, Brut-, Jahresvogel
Etymology:

Es wird lautmalerisch mit honk-hää-hää-hää umschrieben. [Link]
Vocalization:

Quite vocal when interacting. [Link]

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=63-73 cm, wingspan=134-154 cm, weight=1500-2250 g
Details Wikipedia A-Z Animals Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Common tern / Flussseeschwalbe (Sterna hirundo)

Description

Classification: Genus Sterna (Sterna); Subfamily Terns (Sterninae); Order Shorebirds and others (Charadriiformes); Class Birds (aves); Subphylum Vertebrata (Vertebrata); Phylum Chordate (Chordata); Kingdom Animal (Animalia); Domain Eukaryota (Eukaryota)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL 2
Etymology:

[9] The Scots names picktarnie,[11] tarrock[12] and their many variants are also believed to be onomatopoeic, derived from the distinctive call. [Link]
Seasonal Behavior:

Die Flussseeschwalbe (Sterna hirundo) ist eine Vogelart aus der Familie der Seeschwalben (Sternidae). Sie ist in Mitteleuropa ein verbreiteter, aber nicht sehr häufiger Brut- und Sommervogel. Während der Zugzeiten können im mitteleuropäischen Raum außerdem viele Durchzügler beobachtet werden. [Link]
Vocalization:

Similar to Arctic Tern but deeper. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-23 - 10-07
Breeding: 05-01 - 07-29
Migration in: 03-23 - 06-09
Migration out: 06-29 - 10-07

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=31-35 cm, wingspan=77-98 cm, weight=110-150 g
Habitats: River and lake

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2020-04-27 14:08:13 Luppmen (song)

Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-05-20 10:01:22 Pfäffikersee (song?)

♫ 2025-04-21 11:10:30

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

Black-headed gull / Lachmöwe (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)

Alternate classification: Larus ridibundus, Larus ridibundus

Description

Classification: Genus Chroicocephalus (Chroicocephalus); Subfamily Larinae (Larinae); Family Gulls (Laridae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
General: Common waterbird at Pfäffikersee, that doesn't necessarily have the eponymous black head.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Etymology:

[40], In Richard Adams' 1972 novel Watership Down, a black-headed gull named Kehaar (who claims his name is the onomatopoeia of waves breaking against the shore) plays a major part in the story. [Link]
Vocalization:

Quite vocal, especially at breeding ground. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=34-37 cm, wingspan=86-99 cm, weight=200-400 g
not sexually dimporphic.
No breeding plumage Identifying characteristics: Summer: head = black, , , , , tail = black Winter: head = white (With Charlie Brown-style half circle behind the eye), , , , general: beak = red, legs = red, wings = gray,
Habitats: River and lake

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2021-04-27 16:51:23 Wetzikon (song)

Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-09-30 15:27:51 Pfäffikersee (song?)

♫ 2025-05-16 19:42:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2021-04-27 16:51:23 Wetzikon (song?)

♫ 2025-05-16 17:28:00 Switzerland (song?)

Feuchtgebietvögel, nah beim Pfäffikersee, usw.:

General: Einige habe ich beim Aabach in Robenhausen gesehen.

Common stonechat / Schwarzkehlchen (Saxicola torquatus)

Alternate classification: Saxicola torquata

Also known as: African stonechat, European stonechat

Description

Classification: Genus Saxicola (Saxicola); Family Old world flycatchers (Muscicapidae)
General:

Das Schwarzkehlchen (Saxicola rubicola) ist ein kleiner Singvogel aus der Gattung der Wiesenschmätzer (Saxicola) und der Familie der Fliegenschnäpper (Muscicapidae). Die beiden nächstverwandten Arten, das Afrikaschwarzkehlchen (Saxicola torquatus) und das Pallasschwarzkehlchen (Saxicola maurus), galten früher als Unterarten, wurden aber durch Ewan Urquhart und Adam Bowley im Jahr 2002 als selbständige Arten klassifiziert. Die hier beschriebene Art wird zur Unterscheidung daher zuweilen auch Europäisches Schwarzkehlchen genannt. Das Schwarzkehlchen gilt regional als ein stark gefährdeter Vogel. Der Gesamtbestand ist aber mit 2.000.000 – 4.000.000 Brutpaaren (Birdlife International) derzeit nicht gefährdet. [more]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 03-23 - 08-18
Migration in: 02-20 - 05-10
Migration out: 08-18 - 11-06

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Habitats: Agricultural

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song:

Gesang ähnlich obiger Art [Braunkehlchen]. Reine und kratzende Laute abwechselnd, wellenförmig [Link] Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ (song)

Calls:

hart „track“ oder „fiet-track-track“ [Link] No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC937556 - European Stonechat or Schwarzkehlchen - Saxicola rubicola - call.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube
♫ (song)

♫ 2022-06-04 13:33:07 Kaltbrunner-Riet (song?)

Common reed bunting / Rohrammer (Emberiza schoeniclus)

Alternate classification: Schoeniclus schoeniclus

Also known as: Reed bunting, Eurasian reed bunting

Description

A bit like General Burnsides: white sideburns, here curling back around a black head. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-20 - 07-29
Migration in: 02-10 - 04-20
Migration out: 09-17 - 11-26

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=15-16 cm, wingspan=21-28 cm, weight=16-25 g
Habitats: Wetland

Similar species

Looks similar to: House sparrow.

Vocalisation

Song: General: At Fanel I heard sequences of whistles and trills (buzzes?), just a few notes, but wandering up and down: m h lll, or l m hhh m. Listen to recording of 2022-06-25 13.37.28
Song:

Oft 4 Noten: mlhl [Link]

BirdID: A short sequence of 3-5 brittle and buzzing sounds, repeated consistently with marked pauses. Last sound in phrase often has a conclusive feel, but not always. [Link]
Song:

Song variable between individuals and breeding status: A short sequence of 3-5 brittle and buzzing sounds, repeated consistently with marked pauses. Last sound in phrase often has a conclusive feel, but not always. Paired males sing slower than unpaired. Unpaired male song also more contracted, making the pauses between each phrase stand out. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: stereotype melodic (mllllm), slow, Frequency: 3-7 KHz Special sounds: trill
♫ (song)

♫ 2022-06-25 13:37:28 La Sauge (song)

♫ (song)

Calls:

Contact call a sharp, descending and drawn "tseeeoo". A bit similar to Yellow Wagtail, but not as sharp and explosive. In migration a thick, and unmusical "chong" is often heard. [Link] No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC884544 - Common Reed Bunting - Emberiza schöniclus - swooping call.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-04-27 14:19:41 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-07-10 12:15:17 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-03-10 10:25:26 Wetzikon (song?)

♫ 2026-05-24 20:42:00

Source: Zoom H2n Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2023-06-13 12:16:40

Source: Zoom H6/H2n (song)

♫ 2022-06-04 12:31:58 Kaltbrunner-Riet (song?)

♫ 2024-06-21 09:19:34

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Bannriet, SG (song)

♫ 2024-05-20 09:08:40

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Klingnauer Stausee (man-made lake) (song?)

♫ 2024-06-07 16:26:42

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Um Naturzentrum Silberweide am Greifensee (song?)

♫ 2022-06-04 12:31:58 Kaltbrunner-Riet (song?)

♫ 2025-04-21 10:53:28

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song)

♫ 2025-05-16 19:03:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-05-16 19:05:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2022-06-25 13:34:10 La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2024-06-21 09:19:08

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Bannriet, SG (song)

♫ 2025-05-16 17:28:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2021-03-10 10:19:15 Wetzikon (song?)

♫ 2024-05-22 17:37:10

Source: Zoom H6/H2n La Sauge (song?)

Corn bunting / Grauammer (Emberiza calandra)

Alternate classification: Miliaria calandra

Description

[4] Die Strophe lässt sich lautmalerisch etwa wie „tück tück-zick-zik-zkzkzkrissrisss“ wiedergeben. [Link]
Geography:

Eher selten in CH. [Link]
Vocalization:

Repeated in a monotonous manner, to form a typical soundscape of fields where it is numerous. Often compared to the sound of a chain of small keys. The phrase starts with a few staccato, ticking sounds that progress into a dry trill, followed by a short ritardando. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 05-10 - 08-09
Migration in: 02-20 - 04-11
Migration out: 09-07 - 11-15

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=17-18 cm, wingspan=26-32 cm, weight=35-63 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Vocalisation

Song: General: Song is an ascending trill or buzz that climbs about an octave - 4-8 KHz.
Song:

Gesang steigend und immer schneller wie .... was? [Link]
Song:

Sieht für mich eher braun aus als der Grau im Namen, mit einem Finken-Schnabel und Striche oben auf der Brust wie ein Drossel [Link]

Song diagnostic. A brittle, jingling and accelerating phrase of about 2 seconds duration. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: stereotype melodic, fast, Frequency: 4-8 KHz Special sounds: trill, whoop
♫ (song)

Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube
♫ 2022-04-08 15:37:09 (song?)

All the rest I've seen or heard:

Merlin / Merlin (Falco columbarius)

Description

Classification: Genus Falcons (Falco); Family Falconidae (Falconidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General:

The merlin (Falco columbarius) is a small species of falcon from the Northern Hemisphere,^[2] with numerous subspecies throughout North America and Eurasia. A bird of prey, the merlin breeds in the northern Holarctic; some migrate to subtropical and northern tropical regions in winter. Males typically have wingspans of 53–58 centimetres (21–23 in), with females being slightly larger. They are swift fliers and skilled hunters which specialize in preying on small birds in the size range of sparrows to doves and medium-sized shorebirds. In recent decades merlin populations in North America have been significantly increasing, with some merlins becoming so well adapted to city life that they forgo migration; in Europe, populations increased up to about 2000 but have been steady subsequently.^[3] The merlin has for centuries been well regarded as a falconry bird. [more]
Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast
Vocalization:

Series of harsh "kwik-wik wik". Coarseness similar to Peregrine, but pace much quicker. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Migration in: 02-20 - 03-01
Migration out: 02-22 - 03-01

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=25-30 cm, wingspan=50-62 cm, weight=125-300 g
Habitats: Agricultural
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Common rock thrush / Steinrötel (Monticola saxatilis)

Also known as: Rufous-tailed rock-thrush

Description

Classification: Genus Monticola (Monticola); Family Thrushes (Turdidae)
General:

The common rock thrush (Monticola saxatilis),^[2] also known as rufous-tailed rock thrush or simply rock thrush, is a chat belonging to the family Muscicapidae. It was formerly placed in the family Turdidae. The scientific name is from Latin. Monticola is from mons, montis "mountain", and colere, "to dwell", and saxatilis means "rock-frequenting", from saxum, "stone" .^[3] [more]

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=18 cm, wingspan=33-37 cm, weight=43-63 g
Habitats: Mountain

Vocalisation

Song: Nabu: Den weichen, melodischen Gesang trägt das Männchen zumeist im Singflug vor. [Link]
Song:

Song varied and pleasing, and often very difficult to tell from Blue Rock-thrush. It is generally softer, more varied and the deeper notes are less tremulous and vibrating. A higher proportion of the song is in the higher register, with fewer lower fluting sounds, and more mimicry. Both sexes sing, but females less than males. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: improvised melodic, slow, Frequency: 2-8 KHz Special sounds: mimicry
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Eurasian penduline-tit / Beutelmeise (Remiz pendulinus)

Also known as: Eurasian penduline tit

Description

Classification: Genus Remiz (Remiz); Family Titmice (Paridae)
vulnerable General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel
Seasonal Behavior:

Regelmässiger Durchzügler [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-12 - 11-15
Breeding: 05-01 - 07-10
Migration in: 03-12 - 05-10
Migration out: 07-20 - 11-15

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=11 cm, wingspan=16-17 cm, weight=8-10 g
Habitats: Wetland

Vocalisation

Song: Nabu: In den Gesang werden viele Pausen, Triller und Rufe eingebaut. [Link]
Song attributes: Melody: sings 5-19 seconds, fast, Frequency: 1-8 KHz
Calls:

Call a sharp clear high pitched whistle "pju-eee-uu", with the middle part accented and with a raised pitch Or just an all descending whistle "pjuuuuuuu". [Link] 1: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC760787 - Eurasian Penduline Tit - Remiz pendulinus - call, one-second swoop, one-second pause.

♫ (call)

2: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN_VIA_ZOOM
Beutelmeise Bettelrufe sind etwa am 5kHz und höher, im Vordergrund singt ein Amsel viel tiefer.

♫ 2026-05-14 19:19:54

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (begging call)

Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ (call)

♫ (song)

Northern bald ibis / Waldrapp (Geronticus eremita)

Description

Classification: Genus Geronticus (Geronticus); Family Threskiornithidae (Threskiornithidae)
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 Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube

Ortolan bunting / Ortolan (Emberiza hortulana)

Description

Classification: Genus Buntings (Emberiza); Tribe Emberizini (Emberizini); Subfamily Emberizinae (Emberizinae); Family Fringillidae (Fringillidae)
critically endangered General: Nur 1-5 Brutpaare in der Schweiz nach Vogelwarte.ch
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL 3
Vocalization:

Distinct bunting-like timbre with very prominent harmonics. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-20 - 09-17
Breeding: 05-21 - 07-29
Migration in: 04-20 - 05-21
Migration out: 08-29 - 09-17

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=16-17 cm, wingspan=23-29 cm, weight=81-96 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Vocalisation

Song: First about 4 hlhlhlhl then a single higher or lower note
Song:

Song simple, but varies from region to region. Sometimes structurally similar to yellowhammer, but slower, more melancholic, and with more clearly audible harmonics f.ex. "tze-ti tze-ti tze-ti tweeeee". Beginning with repeated alternating notes (tze-ti) and ending on a lower note fading out with a rising pitch. Sometimes without the ending note (like yellowhammer). [Link] Song attributes: Melody: stereotype melodic (hlhlhlhl), fast, Frequency: 3-5 KHz
♫ Spain (song)

♫ (song)

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

Western bonelli's warbler / Berglaubsänger (Phylloscopus bonelli)

Description

Classification: Genus Phylloscopus (Phylloscopus); Family Phylloscopidae (Phylloscopidae)
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
♫ (song)

Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-06-08 16:34:39 Sils (song?)

♫ 2020-06-11 15:33:53 Sils (song?)

Northern wheatear / Steinschmätzer (Oenanthe oenanthe)

Description

Classification: Genus Wheatears (Oenanthe); Family Old world flycatchers (Muscicapidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
General: I thought after seeing these at over 2700 meters that they must be a typical mountain bird (and in the FOK Zurich materials they were in the mountain section), however Wikipedia explains that such a stony landscape is the key, whether that is high or not:
Geography:

The northern wheatear is a migratory insectivorous species breeding in open stony country in Europe and east across the Palearctic with footholds in northeastern Canada and Greenland as well as in northwestern Canada and Alaska. It nests in rock crevices and rabbit burrows. All birds spend most of their winter in Africa. ... Miniature tracking devices have recently shown that the northern wheatear has one of the longest migratory flights known - 30,000 km (18,640 miles), from sub-Saharan Africa to their Arctic breeding grounds.[15] [Link]
Strangely the residence and migration maps differ greatly by source: in Wikipedia the northern wheatear spends winter in subsaharan Africa, while the authoratitive Kosmos-Vogelführer shows some in northern Africa like Morocco. Most other sources agree with Wikipedia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL 1
Etymology: I thought the German name Steinschmätzer, presumably stone kisser (no one explains it, oddly enough) to be much more logical than the English northern wheatear. I was greatly amused to look it up and find it to be a 'folk etymology of "white" and "arse"' (Wikipedia).
Etymology:

The genus name Oenanthe is derived from the Greek oenos (οίνος) "wine" and anthos (ανθός) "flower". It refers to the northern wheatear's return to Greece in the spring just as the grapevines blossom. [Link]
Appearance and identification: It has an evil-looking black eye stripe like the shrike. (I liked Nici Baiker's description of it in the FOK field ornithology course as 'Zorro look'.) I saw one flying on Muottas Muragl and thought the striking gray oval surrounded by dark feathers has to be typical and seems unique to the northern wheatear.
Geography: In den FOK Unterlagen werden die Zugrouten von Alaska und von nordosten Kanada gezeigt, die beide für Winter nach Afrika ziehen. Die aus Alaska fliegen über Asien unglaubliche 15000 Kilometer! Die in Kanada haben es auch nicht leicht, da sie zuerst über den Atlantik nach Spanien fliegen!
Behavior:

Herbert Steffny schreibt auch jetzt Anfang Mai wo die Neuntöter aus Afrika zureuckgekehrt sind, muss man nicht früh aufstehen um sie zu beobachten, weil sie selber warten bis es warm genug ist für die (leckeren) Insekten aktiv zu werden! [Link]
Vocalization:

Each phrase is often introduced by the "weet" sound, then followed by hastened, creaking, rattling and warbling sounds of 1-2 seconds duration. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-23 - 10-27
Breeding: 05-10 - 08-09
Migration in: 03-23 - 05-31
Migration out: 08-09 - 10-27

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=14-15 cm, wingspan=26-32 cm, weight=18-29 g
Habitats: Mountain

Similar species

Looks similar to: Red-backed shrike.

Vocalisation

Song:

The Wheatear song consists of short phrases with marked pauses. Each phrase is often introduced by the "weet" sound, then followed by hastened, creaking, rattling and warbling sounds of 1-2 seconds duration. The "check" sound is also often included in the song. [Link]
General: I thought after seeing these at over 2700 meters that they must be a typical mountain bird (and in the FOK Zurich materials they were in the mountain section), however Wikipedia explains that such a stony landscape is the key, whether that is high or not:
Geography:

Kurze, wechselvolle Strophe mit vielen unreinen Tönen. Meist von erhöhter Warte aus oder in kurzem Singflug vorgetragen. [Link]

The Wheatear song consists of short phrases with marked pauses. The "check" sound is also often included in the song. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: improvised melodic, fast, Frequency: 2-6 KHz Special sounds: rasp, rattle
♫ (song)

♫ (song)

♫ Scotland (song)

♫ (song)

Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube
♫ 2021-07-29 13:07:31 Lej muragl (song?)

Citril finch / Zitronenzeisig (Carduelis citrinella)

Alternate classification: Serinus citrinella

Also known as: Alpine citril finch

Description

Classification: Genus Canaries (Serinus); Subfamily Carduelinae (Carduelinae); Family Fringillidae (Fringillidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel RL 3
Appearance and identification: Gelb wie Erlenzeisig aber kopf gelbes gesicht, grau weiter hinten

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 03-01 - 08-18
Migration in: 02-20 - 05-10
Migration out: 08-29 - 11-06

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Habitats: Mountain

Vocalisation

Song: Wild warbling of about 7 seconds
Song: Wikipedia sagt ähnelt dem Gesang des Stieglitzes, in Aufbau und Tonfolge auch dem Girlitz.
Song: Scheint nicht viel zu singen - XenoCanto hat nur 6 Seiten von Aufnahmen! Song attributes: Melody: sings 5-19 seconds, fast, Frequency: 2-10 KHz
♫ (song)

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

Spotted nutcracker / Tannenhäher (Nucifraga caryocatactes)

Also known as: Eurasian nutcracker

Description

Classification: Genus Nucifraga (Nucifraga); Family Corvidae (Corvidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Appearance and identification: What a schnozzola. Spotted like thrush (on belly) or starling (on back), rough jay-like calling but somewhat softer than the Eurasian Jay
Vocalization:

Fairly silent. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 03-12 - 07-29

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=32-33 cm, wingspan=52-58 cm, weight=140-190 g
Habitats: Mountain

Vocalisation

Song: Grehh, grehh, grehh!!
Song:

Song a quiet improvisation of whistling and clappering sounds, interspersed with mimicry of other birds. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: non-musical, slow, Frequency: 1-10 KHz Special sounds: cawing, mimicry
♫ (song)

Calls:

Warning call a characteristic dry and rasping "karrr karrr karr" in even pitch. [Link] Like crow or its cousin the Eurasian jay (Eichelhaeher).
Call attributes: alarm call Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 1-10 KHz, Special sounds: rasp.
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ (call)

♫ (song?)

♫ 2025-09-06 14:17:00 Hirzli (call)

Wallcreeper / Mauerläufer (Tichodroma muraria)

Description

Classification: Genus Tichodroma (Tichodroma); Family Sittidae (Sittidae)
General:

The wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria) is a small passerine bird found throughout the high mountains of the Palearctic from southern Europe to central China. It is the only extant member of both the genus Tichodroma and the family Tichodromidae. [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel RL R

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 05-10 - 07-29

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=16 cm, wingspan=27-32 cm, weight=15-19 g
Habitats: Mountain

Vocalisation

Song: 5-notes LlmHh with pirol-like slowness and tone.
Song:

Song variable in length, but main characteristic a sequence of 4-6 long, ascending whistles with timbre recalling whistling kettle. More complex and varied phrases are mixed with the long whistles. Both male and female sings. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: stereotype melodic, fast, Frequency: 1-5 KHz
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ (song)

Common redpoll / Birkenzeisig (Acanthis flammea)

Alternate classification: Acanthis cabaret, Fringilla flammea, Fringilla cabaret, Carduelis flammea

Also known as: Lesser redpoll, Lesser redpoll, Alpenbirkenzeisig, Alpenbirkenzeisig, Alpenbirkenzeisig

Description

Classification: Genus Redpolls (Acanthis); Subfamily Carduelinae (Carduelinae); Family Fringillidae (Fringillidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Australia.
General: Es gibt Streit um den Namen, vor allem ob der Alpenbirkenzeisig eine Underart oder eingene Art ist. Wikipedia sagt das erste, ornitho das zweite, usw. Ich habe das Problem für mich gelöst, indem ich die Mehrheit respektiere; wenn Alpenbirkenzeisig erwähnt wird, wird es hier as Birkenzeisig gezeigt.
General: Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast
Etymology: Nachdem ich bei uns in 2025 einen Birkenzeisig gesehen, wurde ich neugierig wegen dem Namen. Der deutsche Name kommt von westschlavischen Sprachen. Google AI fasst so zusammen: Der Name "Zeisig" stammt aus dem Westslawischen abäleitet von Wörtern wie tschechisch "čížek" oder polnisch "czyżyk" (kleiner Zeisig) und wurde im 13./14. Jahrhundert ins Deutsche entlehnt, ursprünglich als "zīse" im Mittelhochdeutschen. ... Die ursprüngliche slawische Form "čižb" (Zeisig) und die Diminutivform "čižbkb" (kleiner Zeisig) sind lautmalerischen Ursprungs und spiegeln möglicherweise den Ruf des Vogels wider ähnlich dem ukrainischen "unù Bu?" (wer seid ihr?).
Etymology: The ‘poll’ part of the English name ‘Redpoll’ refers to a old word for ‘head’. [Link]
Appearance and identification: roter Punkt auf Kopf, sonst weiss+braun, teilweise hell-rot auf brust.
Behavior:

Trotz Ihrer roten Abzeichen sind die bräunlich-weiss gestreiften Vögel wenig auffällig, und wenn sie nicht gerade rufen, bleiben sie meist unentdeckt. Oft fliegen sie unvermittelt auf, drehen im Schwarm eine Runde und fallen wieder ein. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Seldom seen here
Year-round bird
Breeding: 05-21 - 08-18
Migration in: 03-01 - 05-01
Migration out: 08-29 - 10-27

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=11-14 cm, wingspan=20-25 cm, weight=9-16 g
Habitats: Mountain

Vocalisation

Song: A few chirps and a trill, then repeat.
Song:

Song an improvised chattering on various contact calls with no apparent phrasing. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic, fast, Frequency: 2-6 KHz Special sounds: trill
Details Wikipedia eBird Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2025-06-14 11:04:00 Switzerland (song)

♫ (song)

European serin / Girlitz (Serinus serinus) See above

Bar-tailed godwit / Pfuhlschnepfe (Limosa lapponica)

Description

Classification: Genus Limosa (Limosa); Family Shorebirds (Scolopacidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: Zugvogel
Seasonal Behavior: Eine junge Pfuhlschnepfe scheint einen Non-Stop-Rekord für Zugvögel aufgestellt zu haben. Der Vogel sei über 13.500 Kilometer von Alaska in den australischen Bundesstaat Tasmanien geflogen, das berichteten mehrere Medien übereinstimmend. [Link]
Vocalization:

Quite vocal at breeding ground but mostly silent elsewhere. Varied repertoire of mewing and sharp sounds, some resembling Black-tailed, some almost Snipe-like. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-01 - 11-06
Migration in: 07-29 - 08-29
Migration out: 08-21 - 08-29

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=37-39 cm, wingspan=70-80 cm, weight=230-450 g
Habitats: Wetland
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Tree pipit / Baumpieper (Anthus trivialis)

Alternate classification: Alauda trivialis

Description

Classification: Genus Anthus (Anthus); Family Motacillidae (Motacillidae)
General: Sieht aus wie ein Drossel
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL V

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-01 - 10-07
Breeding: 04-20 - 08-09
Migration in: 04-01 - 05-21
Migration out: 08-09 - 10-07

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=15 cm, wingspan=25-27 cm, weight=18-29 g
Habitats: Mountain

Similar species

Song or calls similar to: European greenfinch.

Vocalisation

Song: Reminds me of a greenfinch - series of trills, whoops and other sounds with a long pause
Song:

Mehrere unterschiedliche Tonreihen aneinandergefügt. Zuletzt „zia zia zia ziah“. Zuerst auf Baum sitzend, dann im Singflug, Zia-Rufe während Gleitflug (Fallschirmvogel) [Link]

Song characteristic. Starts with a series of Chaffinch-like "che-che-che" which gives way to long, descending, "ricocheting" whistling notes (especially at the end of song-flight). [Link] Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz) Special sounds: trill, whoop
♫ (song)

♫ (song)

Calls:

“psiet“ etwas nach unten gezogen. Auch „zieh“ [Link]

Flight call a short buzzing "tzzzeet". Given at even pitch, and in a fuller tone than Red-Throated Pipit. [Link] 1: Sounds like 1-note to me. Have also heard two high notes, then dann hlhlhl
2: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC917776 - Tree Pipit alarm call, one note, repeated every second - Anthus trivialis.

♫ (alarm call)

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz),
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-06-12 13:01:36 Sils (song?)

♫ 2020-06-12 13:02:18 Sils (song?)

Meadow pipit / Wiesenpieper (Anthus pratensis)

Description

Classification: Genus Anthus (Anthus); Family Motacillidae (Motacillidae)
General: Looks like Misteldrossel
General: Deutschland: Brut, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL V
Etymology:

[9] The name "pipit", first documented by Thomas Pennant in 1768, is onomatopoeic, from the call note of this species. [Link]
Seasonal Behavior:

Meadow Pipits can often be observed in large numbers when they gather on fields during migration. They like to stay in meadows with high grass or on arable land and only fly up when disturbed or when a bird of prey appears, which is why they are often overlooked. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-01 - 07-29
Migration in: 02-20 - 05-10
Migration out: 09-17 - 11-06

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=14 cm, wingspan=22-25 cm, weight=15-22 g
Habitats: Mountain

Similar species

Looks similar to: Mistle thrush.

Vocalisation

Song: Single note, possibly rising at the end. (Or: long 4 second phrases, gradually louder then softer; swoopy or whoopy.) Sings in flight. BirdID: Song very similar to Rock Pipit, but tone less full and more brittle. Lacks Rock Pipit's closing trill, and beginning is less "hammering". - but what does a rock pipit sound like?
Song:

Ähnlich Baumpieper, aber ohne Zia-Rufe. Vollständiger Gesang nur in flatterndem Singflug. Lange Strophen. Mittelstück meist zart und hoch [Link]

Song very similar to Rock Pipit, but tone less full and more brittle. Lacks Rock Pipit's closing trill, and beginning is less "hammering". [Link] Song attributes: Melody: one note, fast, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz)
♫ (song)

Calls:

fast tonlos „ist, ist.“ [Link]

Contact call a short "eest". Similar to Rock Pipit but shorter,cleaner and most often in quick series. Warning call a sharp, high pitched "tzeet". Also a rattling "trrrrt". [Link] No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC930459 - Meadow Pipit flight call - Anthus pratensis.

♫ (flight call)

Call attributes: flight call Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2024-11-10 09:13:57 Greater Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2021-06-27 11:35:44 Grabs (song?)

Tawny pipit / Brachpieper (Anthus campestris)

Alternate classification: Alauda campestris

Description

Classification: Genus Anthus (Anthus); Family Motacillidae (Motacillidae)
General: Langer schlanker Vogel, man sagt ähnlicher wie eine Schafstelze
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL 1

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-01 - 10-07
Breeding: 05-10 - 07-29
Migration in: 08-10 - 08-18
Migration out: 08-18 - 10-07

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=16 cm, wingspan=25-28 cm, weight=24-32 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Similar species

Looks similar to: Western yellow wagtail.

Vocalisation

Song: Song simple. Consists of three notes merged in a short, continuous and ringing "tsee-ro-ee", given every 1-2 seconds.
Song:

Song simple. Consists of three notes merged in a short, continuous and ringing "tsee-ro-ee", given every 1-2 seconds. Timbre is wagtail-like and intonation variable, but consistent in each song. Flight call similar in timbre, like a cross between Yellow Wagtail and House Sparrow (song). Thinner and more wagtail-like than Richard's Pipit. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: stereotype melodic, slow, Frequency: 2-6 KHz
♫ (song)

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

Black redstart / Hausrotschwanz (Phoenicurus ochruros) See above

Common redstart / Gartenrotschwanz (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)

Alternate classification: Motacilla phoenicurus

Description

Classification: Genus Phoenicurus (Phoenicurus); Family Old world flycatchers (Muscicapidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel
Personal notes: I'd only seen them in Locarno - but I liked them! Later in our FOK expediton to cultural areas around Maienfeld, they were quite common. Also heard many near Frankfurt and Mainz.
Personal notes: I'd only seen them in Locarno - but I liked them! Later in our FOK expediton to cultural areas around Maienfeld, they were quite common. Also heard many near Frankfurt and Mainz.
Appearance and identification: Red-orange belly with white further down, grey back and head, black beard up to eyes with white eyebrows
Where to find it: In Locarno in 2020, they were often hidden in trees but also visible on powerlines. In 2021 one sang every morning at 5:00 in a gingko tree next to our room in Casa Egner.

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-20 - 10-25
Breeding: 05-01 - 07-15
Migration in: 03-20 - 05-07
Migration out: 07-15 - 10-25

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=14 cm, wingspan=20-24 cm, weight=11-19 g
Habitats: Settlement

Vocalisation

Song: I though I had these guys figured out after hearing them in Locarno several times, but they're hard to get a handle on! At BirdID they are described the first two parts of a three-part song like this: 'an ascending single note, immediately followed by a trill', whereas in Locarno I heard an initial high-low-high-low, sometimes without the final low, perhaps also a quick middle note, and no trill. Then a relatively short blackbird or warbler-like tune of maybe 5-8 notes. Listening to more recordings at XenoCanto has completely confused me now! BirdID also says the song is similar to the black redstart, which I sometimes hear at XenoCanto, but never did in Locarno! They also note a similarity to the Lesser Whitethroat (Klappergrasmücke), which I hope to hear in Maienfeld.
Song:

Fängt immer mit denselben 3 Tönen an, einem „dih dede“, wobei das dih etwa ein bis zwei Töne höher liegt. Dann folgt eine kurze Strophe mehr oder weniger reine Töne. Das Ganze ist ziemlich individuell. [Link]

Song distinct, with three parts: First an ascending single note, immediately followed by a trill, then concluding with a squeaky, rattling improvisation that usually contains some mimicry. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: stereotype melodic, slow, Frequency: high (3-9 KHz) Special sounds: mimicry Singing season: 04-01 - 07-31 Dawn chorus start: 80 minutes before dawn.
♫ 2021-05-10 05:07:35 Locarno (song)

Calls:

„Füid-tack“ das füid ähnlich dem des Fitislaubsängers, das tack schnalzend. (wie wenn man die Zunge schnell vom Gaumen abzieht) [Link]

Alarm call a slightly drawn, Willow Warbler-like "huit" with a rising pitch, followed by a short, soft "tuc". [Link] At least in French, this is called the huit call. Not very consistent in tone from one note to another. Some stick to 3-4 or 3-4.5 KHz, others 2.5-5.5.
XC551707 - Common Redstart - Phönicurus phönicurus.

♫ (song?)

XC146715 common redstart huit call.

♫ Seine-et-Marne, Île-de-France recorded by Julien Rochefort - perhaps this isn't a good example as he writes 'An independent juvenile. Its calls are quite irregular. Difficult to distinguish from Phylloscopus collybita, when they don't insert the "tec tec" calls between "huit ...... huit"! But it was really a phoenicurus phoenicurus juvenile, easy to see, perched 15m from me.' (call)

XC560039 - Common Redstart - Phönicurus phönicurus phönicurus.

♫ (alarm call)

Call attributes: contact call Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 2-5 KHz, Special sounds: whoop.
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-06-18 07:37:21 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2021-07-20 14:40:23 Weisslingen (song?)

♫ 2020-06-15 08:50:03 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2021-05-13 08:47:17 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2020-06-19 10:09:15 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2021-05-09 05:05:48 Muralto (song?)

♫ 2025-05-08 17:59:00 Wildert (song?)

♫ 2020-06-14 17:58:55 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2020-06-16 18:16:41 Locarno (call)

♫ 2021-05-10 08:00:54 Gambarogno (song?)

♫ 2020-06-13 18:24:16 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2021-05-29 10:47:46 Maienfeld (song?)

♫ 2020-06-13 18:23:56 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2020-06-14 17:56:23 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2020-06-19 10:09:15 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2020-09-26 09:12:14 Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2025-04-25 13:51:02

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-04-23 10:25:32 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-04-27 13:40:13 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-05-09 05:08:49 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2020-06-13 18:26:13 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2025-08-13 12:57:00 Switzerland (song)

♫ 2020-06-14 17:57:54 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2020-06-15 08:50:03 Locarno (song?)

European bee-eater / Bienenfresser (Merops apiaster)

Description

Classification: Genus Merops (Merops); Family Meropidae (Meropidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel
Personal notes: Hoped to hear it and especially see it in Maienfeld (Kulturland-Exkursion) but didn't. It'll show up in Leuk in 2022!
Vocalization:

Quite vocal in all activities. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-20 - 10-07
Breeding: 05-21 - 08-09
Migration in: 04-20 - 06-09
Migration out: 07-20 - 10-07

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=27-29 cm, wingspan=44-49 cm, weight=44-78 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Vocalisation

Song: BirdID says multi-syllabic, rolling phrases, although it often seems to be one syllable as well. Hope to hear it and especially see it in Maienfeld.
Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz)
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Lesser whitethroat / Klappergrasmücke (Sylvia curruca)

Alternate classification: Curruca curruca, Curruca curruca

Also known as: Zaungrasmücke

Description

Classification: Genus Sylvia (Sylvia); Subfamily Sylviinae (Sylviinae); Family Old world warblers (Sylviidae)
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
♫ (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

♫ (call)

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 2-7 KHz, Special sounds: sputter/pebble-clatter.
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Black cap warbler / Mönchsgrasmücke (Sylvia atricapilla) See above

Whinchat / Braunkehlchen (Saxicola rubetra)

Description

Classification: Genus Saxicola (Saxicola); Family Old world flycatchers (Muscicapidae)
General: Die bauen ein Nest auf dem Boden auf einer Wiese oder Feld und brauchen relativ lang bis die Jungen flugge sind, darum hoffe ich, dass sie weitergezogen sind. Da Felder selten so lang ungestört bleiben im Mittelland, sind sie immer mehr in höheren Lagen zu finden.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL 3
Personal notes: Diesen Vogel haben wir paarweise in einem Rapsfeld entdeckt. Von weitem konnte man nur etwas orange Farbe entdecken. Ich habe ihn 2 Tage später im gleichen Feld gesucht und bin um das ganze Feld gelaufen. Erst am Ende habe ich ihn gesehen: am Anfang, sicher 100m von mit entfernt und um 2 Ecken. Da habe ich dieses Foto gemacht und in Büchern, Apps und Internet nach seiner Identität gesucht. Als ich ein sehr ähnliches Bild auf ornitho.ch gefunden habe, wo er auch auf einer Rapspflanze drauf sitzt, sah ich es als bestätigt, dass es ein Braunkelchen war.

Vocalization: The "peeu"-sound is depper and more resonant than similar sounds by Wheatear and Stonechat. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-20 - 10-15
Breeding: 05-10 - 08-10
Migration in: 03-20 - 05-15
Migration out: 07-20 - 10-15

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=12 cm, wingspan=21-24 cm, weight=14-19 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Vocalisation

Song: General: Short buzzy trilly sounds, 5-8 notes, high.
Song:

Gesang hat zwei Teile wie erster und dritter vom Hausrotschwanz. Steigend, fallend. [Link]
Song:
Song:

Kurzes (3-7 Töne) Liedchen mit 1-2 Kreischlauten, (ähnlich der Mittellaute b. Hausrotschwanz) variabel. Ahmt auch andere Vögel nach. [Link]

Song variable with lots of mimicry. The short phrases starts with dry, rattling or sneering trills, followed by clear whistling notes and expert mimicry. More varied, both in tone and tempo, than both Stonechat and Wheatear. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: improvised melodic, fast, Frequency: high (3-9 KHz) Special sounds: mimicry
Calls:

„teck, teck“ (ähnlich wie wenn man zwei Steine zusammen schlägt) [Link]

Contact call resembles many of it relatives. A short, soft "peeu", followed by a hard "check" (like hitting two rocks together). [Link] No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC732132 - Whinchat - Saxicola rubetra - call - chirp, click.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2021-05-04 07:43:38 Flachsee am Reuss (song?)

♫ (song)

Common kingfisher / Eisvogel (Alcedo atthis) See above

Woodchat shrike / Rotkopfwürger (Lanius senator)

Description

Classification: Genus Lanius (Lanius); Family Shrikes (Laniidae)
critically endangered General:

The woodchat shrike (Lanius senator) is a member of the shrike family Laniidae. It can be identified by its red-brown crown and nape. It is mainly insectivorous and favours open wooded areas with scattered trees such as orchards, particularly when there is bare or sandy ground. The woodchat shrike breeds in southern Europe, the Middle East and northwest Africa, and winters in tropical Africa. [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, seltener Zugvogel RL 1

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-20 - 09-28
Breeding: 05-01 - 07-29
Migration in: 04-20 - 06-09
Migration out: 07-20 - 09-28

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=18 cm, wingspan=26-28 cm, weight=30-40 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Vocalisation

Song:

Territorial song loud and varied. Often repeats phrases and includes mimicry. Alternative [non-territorial] song a more continuous chattering with impressive mimicry similar to Red-backed and Lesser Grey Shrike, and difficult to separate from those. [Link]
Song:

Territorial song loud and varied. Often repeats phrases and includes mimicry. Alternativ song a more continuous chattering with impressive mimicry similar to Red-backed and Lesser Grey Shrike, and difficult to separate from those. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: sings 30 seconds or longer, fast, Frequency: 2-6 KHz Special sounds: mimicry
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ (song)

Red-backed shrike / Neuntöter (Lanius collurio)

Description

Classification: Genus Lanius (Lanius); Family Shrikes (Laniidae)
General: Kulturland. Im Gebüsch an der Stillen Reuss.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel
Personal notes: Saw this masked bandit at Maienfeld. I was also told where to find it in the hedges at the Stille Reuss in Rottenschwil.
Culture:

The BirdLife Switzerland bird of the year of 2020, the red-backed shrike or Neuntöter, made a surprising appearance in the New York Times in May 2021 when a private collection of manuscript and books from the Brontë family was put up for sale. Among the books is father Brontë's copy of Thomas Bewick’s 'A History of British Birds,' which Jane Eyre leafs through in a scene in Charlotte's novel of the same name. [NY Times, 'A Lost Brontë Library Surfaces', by Jennifer Schuessler, May 25, 2021]
Etymology:

Er spiesst Beutetiere oft an Dornen oder spitzen Seitenästen auf, um sie zu bearbeiten und zu zerteilen oder als Vorrat zu halten. Seinen Namen soll der Neuntöter dieser Eigenart verdanken: Man hat früher irrtümlicherweise angenommen, dass er immer erst neun Tiere aufspiesst, bevor er wieder eines verzehrt. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 05-01 - 10-07
Breeding: 05-10 - 08-09
Migration in: 05-01 - 06-09
Migration out: 07-20 - 10-07

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=17 cm, wingspan=24-27 cm, weight=25-35 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Similar species

Looks similar to: Northern wheatear.

Vocalisation

Song: Reminds me a bit of a Rohrsaenger/Feldlerche with its short, varied bits. BirdID says Song surprisingly varied with many expert imitations of small passerines, interwoven with bell-like ringing and dry chirping sounds. May be confusing and hard to identify if bird not seen. Song not very loud, but phrases can be very long. 'May be confusing' - tell me about it! What's not confusing about trying to tell apart 422 species of Swiss birds!
Song:

Call a hard "check check" (like striking two rocks together), and a variable nasal "twee" Song surprisingly varied with many expert imitations of small passerines, interwoven with bell-like ringing and dry chirping sounds. May be confusing and hard to identify if bird not seen. Song not very loud, but phrases can be very long. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: sings 30 seconds or longer, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz) Special sounds: mimicry
♫ (song)

Details Wikipedia Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2022-06-04 13:16:17 Uznach (song?)

♫ (song)

♫ 2022-06-25 08:47:59 La Sauge (song?)

♫ (song)

Eurasian coot / Blässhuhn (Fulica atra)

Also known as: Common coot, Taucherli, Blässhühner

Description

Classification: Genus Coots (Fulica); Family Rails (Rallidae)
General:

The Eurasian coot (Fulica atra), also known as the common coot, or Australian coot, is a member of the rail and crake bird family, the Rallidae. It is found in Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and parts of North Africa. It has a slaty-black body, a glossy black head and a white bill with a white frontal shield. The sexes are similar. [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Vocalization:

Varied. Usually short, metallic and explosive. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=36-38 cm, wingspan=70-80 cm, weight=600-1000 g
Habitats: River and lake

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ (song)

Calls:

Most diagnostic call a very short, sharp and explosive "tsk". Sometimes a longer, less sharp but nasal "caw", with varying harshness. [Link]
XC902440 - Eurasian Coot squeaky call - Fulica atra.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz), Special sounds: weird.
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2021-02-05 10:34:24 Pfäffikersee (song?)

♫ 2025-02-08 10:55:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2024-03-22 06:51:40

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (song?)

Common moorhen / Teichhuhn (Gallinula chloropus)

Also known as: Eurasian moorhen, Eurasian moorhen, Teichralle, Teichhühner

Description

Classification: Genus Gallinula (Gallinula); Family Rails (Rallidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
General: Seen at the Pfäffikersee walking across the path from one set of reeds to another. An apprentice at the nature center gave us the identification, presuming it was a juvenile because of the lack of color. I'd have said its legs were shorter, but the moorhen definitely has the main trait we saw, that it holds its short tail in the air.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL V
Habitat:

Common Moorhens prefer to nest in the thicket on the edge of ponds, lakes or rivers and mostly only give themselves away through their guttural calls. They are easier to observe in winter because then they leave their well-vegetated habitat and are seen in meadows, parks and on open waters. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-20 - 08-09
Migration in: 03-01 - 05-01
Migration out: 09-07 - 12-16

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=32-35 cm, wingspan=50-55 cm, weight=240-420 g
Habitats: Wetland

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song:

Most typical is the territorial call (song); a sharp, loud and resonant "krrrr-ook" or "krrrk". [Link] Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ (call)

Calls:

Rich repertoire of loud calls and softer sounds. Other calls; a sharp, three or four-syllable "kekeke", and a soft "wep" sometimes drawn-out in a more mewing version. [Link]

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz), Special sounds: quack.
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2022-06-04 11:59:03 Kaltbrunner-Riet (song?)

European greenfinch / Grünfink (Chloris chloris) See above

Brambling / Bergfink (Fringilla montifringilla)

Also known as: Cock o' the north, Mountain finch, Nordfink

Description

Classification: Genus Fringilla (Fringilla); Subfamily Fringillinae (Fringillinae); Family Fringillidae (Fringillidae)
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
♫ (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.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 2-6 KHz,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2024-11-01 07:01:52 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2024-11-01 07:01:52 Greater Fehraltorf (call)

♫ (call)

Rock bunting / Zippammer (Emberiza cia)

Description

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 05-01 - 09-07
Migration in: 03-01 - 05-01
Migration out: 09-28 - 11-26

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=16 cm, wingspan=21-27 cm, weight=21-29 g
Habitats: Mountain

Vocalisation

Song: AppearanceAndIdentification: orange-brauner bauch, weisse brust+kopf mit 3 schwarzen streifen am kopf (unter/am/über Augen), braun+dunkelbraun auf Flügeln; aber Weibchen eher braun
Song: Notes from 2022: Short song, relatively long pause, repeated with slight variation? Has a very short triller of just 3 notes.
May have heard and seen one walking parallel to the Aa on the way to Pfaeffikersee today, though the visual ID is very uncertain; the Xeno-Canto song here sounds different than my 2022 description - musical like a chaffinch but rising, not falling.
Song:

Song variable, but usually distinct. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: stereotype melodic, fast, Frequency: 2-9 KHz Special sounds: trill, mimicry
♫ Spain (song)

Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube
♫ 2022-04-10 14:37:37 (song?)

Common linnet / Bluthänfling (Linaria cannabina)

Alternate classification: Carduelis cannabina, Carduelis cannabina

Also known as: Eurasian linnet

Description

Classification: Genus Linaria (Linaria); Subfamily Carduelinae (Carduelinae); Family Fringillidae (Fringillidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL V
Etymology:

Herkunft: von der Hanf-Pflanze (Cánnabis), deren Samen zu seiner Nahrung gehören [Link]
Appearance and identification: Rote Stirn, Bauch; Kopf grau, Kinn weiss.
Appearance and identification:

The summer male has a grey nape, red head-patch and red breast. Females and young birds lack the red and have white underparts, the breast streaked buff. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-20 - 08-18
Migration in: 03-01 - 05-10
Migration out: 09-17 - 11-15

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=13 cm, wingspan=21-25 cm, weight=15-22 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Vocalisation

Song: General: Ähnlich wie ein Rohrsänger aber nur kurze Segmente mit klaren Pausen.
Song: Nabu: Sein Gesang umfasst trillernde, kurze und musikalische pfeifende Laute, unter anderem „piUU“, „trrüh“ und „tu-ki-jüüh“. [Link]
Song:

Gesang ist fast Rohrsänger-artig, relativ hoch und zirpend. Manchmal mit kleinen Pausen. bird-song Aufnahme where kurz, llll mhllll [Link]
Song: Gesang für mich ähnlich wie Grünfink.
Song:

Song a varied, sweet stream of contact calls, mimicry and trills with a staccato feel. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: stereotype melodic, fast, Frequency: 2-7 KHz Special sounds: mimicry
♫ (song)

Calls:

Flight-call a quick and "bouncing" "gig-gig" or "tchett-tchett". Most often disyllabic utterances, while Twite seems to vary more the number of syllables. Tone harder and more bouncing. Most easily recognized by the frequently interwoven, disyllabic contact calls. [Link] No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC910816 - Common Linnet call - Linaria cannabina.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2025-08-13 12:54:00 Klausenpass (song?)

♫ 2025-03-04 08:21:54

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (song?)

Sorry, file too big!
♫ 2024-04-06 13:10:28

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Hallau (song?)

♫ 2024-04-06 13:09:36

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Hallau (song?)

Song thrush / Singdrossel (Turdus philomelos) See above

Mistle thrush / Misteldrossel (Turdus viscivorus)

Description

Classification: Genus Turdus (Turdus); Family Thrushes (Turdidae)
General: After a long outing in the woods with no 'new' discoveries where I hoped there might be, I followed a woodpecker-like rattle deep into the woods, and eventually managed a clear view of a mistle thrush (German Misteldrossel) while standing directly under the tree where I heard it. I believe it was a pair, but I only got a picture of one. The breast has that checkerboard look that thrushes have.
General: I initially saw them in the woods but later by Neschwil they came out of the woods into the fields to feed.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 03-23 - 07-29
Migration in: 02-20 - 05-01
Migration out: 08-29 - 11-15

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=27 cm, wingspan=42-47 cm, weight=100-150 g
Habitats: Forest

Similar species

Looks similar to: Meadow pipit.

Vocalisation

Song: Song:

Die Stimme ist ähnlich wie die vom Pirol. [Link]

Gesang ähnlich Amsel, aber eintöniger mit geringerem Tonumfang [auch kürzer, kein schnirpsliges Ende -- Bill] [Link]
Song:

Gesang ähnlich dem der Amsel, aber weniger abwechslungsreich und melancholisch, fast weinerlich klingend. Meist von Tannenspitze aus. [Link]

Song loud, far reaching and melodic. Most similar to Blackbird, but pitch is higher, phrases shorter (3-6 notes) and most notably, pauses between phrases are much shorter. All which gives the song a much more hurried feel than that of the Blackbird. Timbre is thinner and slightly shivering, and tonal range more limited. May have recurring favourite motifs, but does not repeat phrases like Song Thrush. Sometimes adds higher pitched parts and imitations. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: non-musical, fast, Frequency: 2-9 KHz Special sounds: rattle
Calls:

Rufe:schnarrend „kerr“, daneben „tück-tück-tück“ [Link]

Other calls; a dry rattle, likened to the sound of a piece of wood drawn over a coarse comb, and a Fieldfare-like "chuck". [Link] General: I mistook this one for a woodpecker the first time I heard it, partly because BirdNet also did! Rattle generated in vocal tract, not with the beak!
XC945811 - Mistle Thrush - Turdus viscivorus - call, sounds like drumming, mistook it for a woodpecker first time I heard this.

♫ (drumming)

Call attributes: Call melody: non-musical, fast, Frequency: 2-9 KHz, Special sounds: rattle.
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-05-07 12:56:43 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2021-03-29 11:19:41 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-05-30 18:15:00 Switzerland (song)

♫ 2025-05-14 17:18:00 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2021-04-21 08:56:01 Pfäffikersee (song)

♫ 2021-04-21 09:41:46 Pfäffikersee (song?)

♫ 2021-04-21 08:54:48 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-11-30 16:56:23 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2024-05-28 03:57:00 Merlin suggested additional birds: Mittelmeermöwe, Zwergohreule, Misteldrossel, Amsel. Levanto (song)

♫ 2020-11-30 21:40:16 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-03-08 09:19:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2026-03-07 08:00:16

Source: Zoom H2n Gsangweg (song?)

♫ 2023-02-23 17:40:48

Source: Zoom H6/H2n (song)

♫ 2021-04-21 09:35:10 Pfäffikersee (song?)

♫ 2020-05-07 12:56:43 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ (song?)

♫ 2021-04-18 15:58:51 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2021-05-20 13:18:10 Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge (song?)

Redwing / Rotdrossel (Turdus iliacus) See above

Fieldfare / Wacholderdrossel (Turdus pilaris)

Also known as: Wachholderdrossel

Description

Classification: Genus Turdus (Turdus); Family Thrushes (Turdidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Personal notes: I had an interesting educational experience with fieldfares! Check it out under Redwing.
Appearance and identification:

The fieldfare is 25 cm (10 in) long, with a grey crown, neck and rump, a plain brown back, dark wings and tail and white underwings. [Link]
Geography: Nabu: 'Die ursprüngliche Heimat dieser nordischen Drossel ist die Sibirische Taiga. Vor etwa 200 Jahren begann ihre Ausbreitung in den südwestlichen Raum Europas.'Wie der Misteldrossel vertreibt der Wacholderdrossel Feinde wie Elster, Rabenkrähe oder Bussard vom Nestgebiet mit Kotbomben. ['Die Wacholderdrossel - Turdus pilaris Ein Wintergast wird heimisch', von Paul Laakmann aus Buntspecht 3/1986]
Behavior:

Misteldrossel greifen Vögel an die ihr Nest bedrohen könnten. Das nennt man eine Kopropolemische Reaktion - vom griechischen für Kot under Krieg. Mester meint Hauptziel der Angriffe wäre meistens der Kopf. Woanders wurde erwahnt, dass der Kot der Misteldrosseln besonders klebrig ist, eben weil der Vogel viele Mistelbeeren frisst, und wenn die Feder zusammenkleben, könnt das Opfer nicht optimal fliegen. [Artikel 'Defensive Defäkation in der Vogelwelt' von Horst Mester, erschienen Oktober 1976 in 'Der Ornithologische Beobachter']
Vocalization:

Very vocal. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-01 - 07-20
Migration in: 03-01 - 04-20
Migration out: 09-28 - 12-16

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=25 cm, wingspan=39-42 cm, weight=80-120 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: BirdID says song a mix of dry contact calls, BirdLife that it's almost only heard in flight. The XC recording is a bit of a chuckle to me.
Song:

Gesang nicht melodisch,aus gepressten, quietschenden Tönen bestehend, fast nur im Flug vorgetragen. [Link]

Song a mix of dry contact calls; "trrrt trrrrt", and high pitched, drawn out, chattering improvisations. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: non-musical (lll lll h), slow, Frequency: 1-6 KHz Special sounds: rasp
♫ (song)

Calls:

Schackernd, ähnlich obiger Art [Misteldrossel], aber weicher. Am Brutplatz raue krächzende Rufe. [Link]

Scolding call a hard "check", often given in decelerating series. Contact call in migration a soft, pleasant but, buzzy "weet". Typically bursts into continuos, squeaky chattering at takeoff. [Link] 1: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC938835 - Fieldfare flight call - Turdus pilaris.

♫ (flight call)

Fieldfare flight call.

♫ 2025-05-14 16:16:00 Switzerland (flight call)

2: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC937607 - Fieldfare alarm call - Turdus pilaris.

♫ (alarm call)

Call attributes: flight call Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2022-06-22 15:59:37 Wauwilermoos (song?)

♫ 2024-12-18 13:20:00 Wildert Weiher (call)

♫ 2022-05-21 21:09:34 Leuk and surroundings (song?)

♫ 2025-04-03 09:53:00 Switzerland (call)

Collared flycatcher / Halsbandschnäpper (Ficedula albicollis)

Description

Classification: Genus Ficedula (Ficedula); Family Old world flycatchers (Muscicapidae)
General:

The collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis) is a small passerine bird in the Old World flycatcher family, one of the four species of Western Palearctic black-and-white flycatchers. It breeds in southeast Europe (isolated populations are present in the islands of Gotland and Öland in the Baltic Sea, Sweden) and Eastern France to the Balkan Peninsula and Ukraine and is migratory, wintering in sub Sahara Africa.^[2] It is a rare vagrant in western Europe. [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL 3

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-11 - 09-07
Breeding: 05-01 - 07-20
Migration in: 05-10 - 05-18
Migration out: 07-20 - 09-07

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: Simple tune...
Song attributes: Mnemnoic: Mein Halsband, mein Halsband, er schnäppt Melody: stereotype melodic, fast, Frequency: 3-7 KHz
♫ Croatia (song)

♫ (song)

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

Jackdaw / Dohle (Coloeus monedula)

Alternate classification: Corvus monedula

Also known as: Eurasian jackdaw, Western jackdaw

Description

Classification: Genus Crows (Corvus); Family Corvidae (Corvidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast je nach Bundesland: RL V; RL 3
Etymology:

[Der deutsche Name der Dohle lässt sich bis auf das althochdeutsche tāha zurückverfolgen, wahrscheinlich eine lautmalerische Bezeichnung, die sich von den Rufen der Vögel ableitete. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-11 - 07-10
Migration in: 02-01 - 04-01
Migration out: 09-28 - 11-26

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Habitats: Settlement

Similar species

Song or calls similar to: Carrion crow.

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2025-02-05 14:52:00 Switzerland (song)

Calls: Nabu: Ein hartes „kjack“ oder „schack“ sowie ein raues „tschräh“ hört man am häufigsten von der Dohle. Sie ist ein begabtes Stimmwunder und hat eine Vielzahl von Lauten und Imitationen auf Lager. [Link]

meist angenehm klingende, kurze Rufe: "kja", oft mehrfach wiederholt, härteres "kjack!" oder gezogenes "kjaar". [Link] Strange tone, Almost barking or a gull cry.
XC604997 - Western Jackdaw - Coloeus monedula - call, recorded in England.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: Call melody: simple rhythmic, fast, Frequency: 1-3 KHz, Special sounds: weird.
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2025-02-03 14:43:00 Switzerland (song?)

Bearded reedling / Bartmeise (Panurus biarmicus)

Description

Classification: Genus Panurus (Panurus); Family Old world warblers (Sylviidae)
General:

The bearded reedling (Panurus biarmicus) is a small, sexually dimorphic reed-bed passerine bird. It is frequently known as the bearded tit, due to some similarities to the long-tailed tit, or the bearded parrotbill. It is the only species in the family Panuridae. [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel
Vocalization:

More often heard than seen. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 03-12 - 08-09

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=12 cm, wingspan=16-18 cm, weight=12-18 g
Habitats: Wetland

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song:

Song a primitive, 3-syllable phrase, consisting of contact call-like sounds. [Link] Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2024-09-14 09:21:00 Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge (call)

Calls:

Usually identified by contact call; a ringing, explosive "tschin" with a characteristic "dirty" timbre. Also a hard and very short "pit", often mixed with the previous. [Link] Chirping
XC765306 - Bearded Reedling - Panurus biarmicus - two types of calls, one-note and two-note.

♫ (song)

Call attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic, fast, Frequency: 3-7 KHz
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2024-09-14 09:21:00 Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge (call)

Common whitethroat / Dorngrasmücke (Sylvia communis)

Alternate classification: Curruca communis

Also known as: Greater whitethroat, Greater whitethroat

Description

General:

Die Dorngrasmücke (Sylvia communis) ist ein Singvogel aus der Gattung der Grasmücken (Sylvia) und in Europa weit verbreitet. Sie bevorzugt Lebensräume mit dornigen Büschen, in denen sie ihr Nest anlegt. [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel
Vocalization:

Variable. Usually recognized by fairly concise phrase, usually with three ascending and descending parts. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-01 - 09-28
Breeding: 05-01 - 08-09
Migration in: 04-01 - 05-21
Migration out: 07-20 - 09-28

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=14 cm, wingspan=18-23 cm, weight=13-18 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Vocalisation

Song: Song:

Often ends with more indistinct mimicry, or subsong. May omit characteristic phrase and sing more cryptic for periods of time, and may be more difficult to identify. [Link]

Relativ kurzer gesang, an Anfang fallend, dann entweder weiter oder steigend. 7-14 notes. [Link]
Song:

Gesang kurz und rau (Kürzester Name).Oft im Singflug aber auch ab Warte. Wenn im Singflug dann Strophe etwas länger. [Link]

Often ends with more indistinct mimicry, or subsong. May omit characteristic phrase and sing more cryptic for periods of time, and may be more difficult to identify. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic, fast, Frequency: 3-7 KHz Special sounds: mimicry
♫ (song)

Calls:

heiser, etwas nasal „wäd“ warnt m.“tschähr“. [Link]

Warning call a harsh, drawn "weeet", usually with accented ending, sometimes rising abruptly in pitch. [Link] No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN
Dorngrasmücke buzzy calls.

♫ 2023-07-16 10:03:00 Neunkirch, Schaffhausen (call)

Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Water pipit / Bergpieper (Anthus spinoletta)

Alternate classification: Pipastes spinoletta

Description

Classification: Genus Anthus (Anthus); Family Motacillidae (Motacillidae)
General: Saw in Toggenburg on our FOK weekend 2021.
General: Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast
Appearance and identification:

wie ein grauer Fink. [Link]
Vocalization:

Similar to Rock Pipit. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 05-01 - 08-09
Migration in: 03-01 - 05-10
Migration out: 09-28 - 11-15

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=17 cm, wingspan=24-29 cm, weight=19-27 g
Habitats: Mountain

Vocalisation

Song:

Er singt überwiegend fliegend ein ein- bis zweisilbiges „zip“ oder „tsi tsi“. [Link]
Song:

Monoton, GAR NICHT BERGIG. Tsilp tsilp, gleich note, wiederholt sich über 10+ Sekunden, leicht schneller aber nicht zu viel. [Link]

Meist drei nicht scharf abgesetzte lange Tonreihen. Singflug. Mittelteilstück rauer und geräuschhafter als bei obiger Art [Wiesenpieper]. [Link]

Song slightly more melodious, often with Tree Pipit like glissandi at end of phrase. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: one note, fast, Frequency: 3-7 KHz
♫ Spain (song)

Calls:

„fist“, etwas rauer als bei obiger Art [Wiesenpieper]. [Link]

Contact call sharper and more drawn. [Link] No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC944412 - Water Pipit - Anthus spinoletta spinoletta - call.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2025-08-12 15:02:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-06-14 12:49:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-07-19 14:08:13 Bergstation Urnerboden (song?)

♫ 2021-06-27 10:19:11 Grabs (song?)

♫ 2024-11-01 10:00:08 Greater Fehraltorf (call)

Alpine accentor / Alpenbraunelle (Prunella collaris)

Alternate classification: Sturnus collaris

Description

Classification: Genus Prunella (Prunella); Family Sparrows (Passeridae)
General:

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
♫ (song)

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

Hawfinch / Kernbeisser (Coccothraustes coccothraustes)

Description

Classification: Genus Coccothraustes (Coccothraustes); Subfamily Carduelinae (Carduelinae); Family Fringillidae (Fringillidae)
General:

The hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) is a passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It is the only species placed in the genus Coccothraustes. Its closest living relatives are the Chinese grosbeak (Eophona migratoria) and Japanese grosbeak (Eophona personata) of East Asia, and the evening grosbeak (Hesperiphona vespertina) and hooded grosbeak (Hesperiphona abeillei) of North America. [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-20 - 07-10
Migration in: 02-10 - 04-20
Migration out: 08-29 - 11-15

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=18 cm, wingspan=29-33 cm, weight=46-70 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2024-10-31 13:29:37 Greater Fehraltorf (song)

Calls:

Most typical call a sharp and explosive "tzek", with abrupt, emphasized, cut-off ending. Quite similar to Robin, but harder, with each syllable marginally longer with a slightly wheezing timbre. Repetitions are slower and more singular than Robin. Diagnostic when interspersed with high frequency notes. [Link] Found no references to song
XC712663 - Hawfinch - Coccothraustes coccothraustes - whit whit tsirp, recorded in Sweden, redubbed by me to a call.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, fast, Frequency: 4-8 KHz,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube
♫ 2025-02-10 13:52:00 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2026-02-24 15:56:58

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2025-03-08 08:42:00 Switzerland (song?)

Wood lark / Heidelerche (Lullula arborea)

Also known as: Woodlark

Description

Classification: Genus Lullula (Lullula); Family Larks (Alaudidae)
General: 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
♫ (song)

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

♫ Spain (flight call)

Call attributes: flight call Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ (call)

♫ 2025-06-01 13:18:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2024-04-06 13:10:28

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Hallau (song?)

♫ 2024-04-06 13:09:36

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Hallau (song?)

Alpine chough / Alpendohle (Pyrrhocorax graculus)

Also known as: Yellow-billed chough

Description

Classification: Genus Pyrrhocorax (Pyrrhocorax); Family Corvidae (Corvidae)
General: Als schwarzer Vogel mit gelbem Schnabel in den Alpen leicht zu erkennen. Ich habe sie auch in Schwanden (Ortsteil Thon) gesehen, direkt unter Vrenelisgärtli. Es heisst, bei Schnee fliegen sie tagsüber ins Tal aber abends wieder hoch.
General: Alpendohlen gibt's von den Kanaren bis in den Himalayen. In der Schweiz. Man kennt sie in den Schweizer Bergen.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel RL R
Etymology:

[9][10] The English word "chough" was originally an alternative onomatopoeic name for the jackdaw, Corvus monedula, based on its call. [Link]
Vocalization:

Diagnostic and very different from Red-billed Chough. A sharp, quite high-pitched, whistling trill "chreeeee". Usually alternated with pure-toned high-pitched whistles, falling abruptly in pitch with a "clipping" ending. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 05-01 - 07-29

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=38 cm, wingspan=75-85 cm, weight=188-252 g
Habitats: Mountain

Vocalisation

Song: Weird sounding chirping, often in large flocks.
Song attributes: Melody: non-musical, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz)
Chirping, rather musical
XC512155 - Alpine Chough - Pyrrhocorax graculus - flight call recorded in Spain.

♫ Spain (flight call)

Call attributes: flight call Call melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: 2-7 KHz,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2021-02-20 11:28:44 Adelboden (song?)

♫ Morocco (song)

♫ 2025-08-13 13:20:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2024-11-20 14:57:00 Greater Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2021-02-20 11:26:48 Adelboden (song?)

♫ 2021-02-20 11:34:21 Adelboden (song?)

♫ 2021-02-20 11:34:56 Adelboden (song?)

♫ 2021-02-21 12:51:19 Adelboden (song?)

Great egret / Silberreiher (Ardea alba)

Alternate classification: Casmerodius albus, Egretta alba, Egretta albus, Casmerodius albus

Description

Classification: Genus Great herons (Ardea); Family Herons (Ardeidae)
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.

♫ (flight call)

Call attributes: Call melody: non-musical, slow, Frequency: low (1-3 KHz),
Details Wikipedia A-Z Animals Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Eurasian crane / Kranich (Grus grus)

Also known as: Common crane, Grauer Kranich, Eurasischer Kranich

Description

Classification: Genus Grus (Grus); Family Cranes (Gruidae)
General: 2023 haben wir zum ersten Mal einen Kranich gesehen, der in Uster-Werrikon gelandet ist und einige Tage geblieben. 31 Oktober 2024 hat ein Artikel im Tages-Anzeiger beschrieben wie Renaturalisierung in Deutschland usw die Anzahl Kraniche in Europa stark erhöht hat, und dass sie seit 2011 wieder und immer mehr über die Schweiz fliegen. Man hat in Kanton Argau sogar ein Trupp von 800 Kranichen gesehen!
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel, seltener Wintergast
Vocalization:

Powerful, resonant and bugling "kriiiiioooo" in various forms. Very far reaching. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 02-20 - 11-26
Migration in: 11-15 - 11-23
Migration out: 03-12 - 04-01

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=110-120 cm, wingspan=220-245 cm, weight=4500-7000 g
Habitats: Wetland
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Little bittern / Zwergdommel (Ixobrychus minutus)

Description

Classification: Genus Least bitterns (Ixobrychus); Family Herons (Ardeidae)
General:

The little bittern or common little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) is a wading bird in the heron family, Ardeidae. Ixobrychus is from Ancient Greek ixias, a reed-like plant and brukhomai, to bellow, and minutus is Latin for "small".^[2] [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL 1
Vocalization:

Mostly silent except in breeding season. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-20 - 09-28
Breeding: 05-10 - 08-09
Migration in: 04-20 - 06-09
Migration out: 07-20 - 09-28

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=33-38 cm, wingspan=52-58 cm, weight=140-150 g
Habitats: Wetland

Vocalisation

Calls:

Flight-call a sharp "ki-ke-ke" or a nasal "ke". [Link] Almost a bark, low-pitched, little treble.
Call attributes: Call melody: non-musical, slow, Frequency: low (1-3 KHz),
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube

Great bittern / Rohrdommel (Botaurus stellaris)

Alternate classification: Ardea stellaris

Also known as: Eurasian bittern

Description

Classification: Genus Brown bitterns (Botaurus); Family Herons (Ardeidae)
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 Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Goldcrest / Wintergoldhähnchen (Regulus regulus) See above Common firecrest / Sommergoldhähnchen (Regulus ignicapilla) See above Marsh tit / Sumpfmeise (Poecile palustris) See above

Yellowhammer / Goldammer (Emberiza citrinella)

Description

Classification: Genus Buntings (Emberiza); Tribe Emberizini (Emberizini); Subfamily Emberizinae (Emberizinae); Family Fringillidae (Fringillidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL V
Personal notes: Habe ihn im Fehraltorfer-Wald endlich gesehen als er von einem Baum in die Spitze eines anderen geflogen ist.
Etymology: The English language Wikipedia page for bunting says: The genus name Emberiza is from Old German Embritz, a bunting.[6] The origin of the English "bunting" is unknown. I always though it makes little sense that these birds are Ammer in German and Hammer in English, though neither seems logical. Ammer is just a corruption of Embritz, and Hammer presumably a folk etymology - 'oh, this sounds a bit like hammer, let's call it that!'.
Etymology:

Sie werden lautmalerisch mit tsr, zik oder zrk umschrieben. [Link]
Behavior: vogelwarte.ch says it prefers areas around agriculture: hedges, orchards, fields, meadows. Heard in the woods next to farmer's fields in Fehraltorf. (Weidholzweg, next farm is Tuschacher. The breast has a checkerd pattern apparently typical of buntings (Emberizidae), that to me resembles that of many thrushes - but this seems to be coincidence.

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-15 - 09-05
Migration in: 01-05 - 12-05
Migration out: 01-06 - 02-20

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=16 cm, wingspan=23-29 cm, weight=25-36 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Vocalisation

Song: High-pitched, two notes that sound like one, repeated 10-12 times, with a higher tweet and then a whistle that sounds higher to me but usually shows up on the sonogram as the same range. The mnemonic for the staccato song in German is: «Wie, wie, wie, wie hab ich dich lieb». See the image for dialects noted by yellowhammers.net - the most common Swiss dialect is said to be XlB, though I don't always hear the second note myself (and interestingly enough, it doesn't play on my Bose headphones). Pavel Pipek of the yellowhammers project kindly explained to me: 'Regarding the XlB and other dialects, these codes were defined by a Danish scientist Poul Hansen in his paper from 1985. In this case Xl stands for a syllable with high frequency (and long) and B for a syllable with low frequency.'
Song:

Kurzes Liedchen. „ Wie wie wie hab ich dich liiieb“ Das „Lieb“ ist meist etwas tiefer, kann aber auch höher sein oder doppelt, dabei das eine höher und das andere tiefer. Sehr variabel! [Link]

Song a series of 6-8 (or more) slightly ascending "tze" 's, rising in volume and ending on a sustained note, which may be lower or higher than the others. Often rendered as "little-bit-of-cheese-and-no-bread". Last note is often omitted, which may lead to confusion with Cirl Bunting. Timbre with prominent harmonics as in other bunting songs. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic, fast, Frequency: 4-8 KHz Singing season: 03-01 - 09-30 Dawn chorus start: 45 minutes before dawn.
Calls:

„zick“ „zeck“ [Link]

Distinct contact call: A short and brittle "zeet", rich in harmonics. [Link] No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Call recorded in UK, sounds typical to me, and spiced up by a yellowhammer in the background and several other birds

♫ (call)

Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ (song?)

♫ 2020-07-01 08:11:18 An der Alpweg-Grübenholzweg-Kreuzung Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-05-26 18:05:59 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2020-05-26 18:05:16 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2024-04-26 14:45:00 Greater Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2023-07-16 09:29:00 Neunkirch, Schaffhausen (song)

♫ 2021-04-21 08:37:16 Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2020-05-29 07:06:42 Luppmen (song?)

♫ (song?)

♫ 2024-06-05 09:45:50

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Pfäffikersee (song)

♫ 2022-06-22 16:39:30

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Wauwilermoos (song?)

♫ 2024-07-17 14:31:02

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Greater Fehraltorf (song)

♫ Switzerland (song)

♫ 2025-05-14 15:35:00 Pfaeffikon (song?)

♫ 2021-04-27 17:34:26 Wetzikon (song?)

♫ 2020-05-29 07:07:21 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-08-01 15:58:17 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2024-07-17 14:44:13

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Pfäffikersee (song)

♫ 2025-01-10 14:39:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-05-16 20:15:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2023-07-16 09:26:00 Neunkirch, Schaffhausen (song)

♫ 2025-05-14 16:11:00 Switzerland (call)

♫ 2024-06-05 09:34:58

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Pfäffikersee (song)

♫ 2024-06-05 09:47:00

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Pfäffikersee (song)

♫ 2022-07-28 11:26:40

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Am Aabach (Robenhausen) (song?)

♫ 2020-07-01 08:09:27 Alpweg (call)

♫ (song?)

♫ 2024-06-27 18:42:14

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

Cirl bunting / Zaunammer (Emberiza cirlus)

Description

Classification: Genus Buntings (Emberiza); Tribe Emberizini (Emberizini); Subfamily Emberizinae (Emberizinae); Family Fringillidae (Fringillidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel RL 2
Personal notes: Als Anfänger, hätte ich gedacht, dies wäre eine Goldammer, da beide gelb mit braunen Details sind; BirdID meint sie sind kompakter. Das Männchen ist eher gelb und hat was für mich wie drei brauen Streifen im Gesicht aussehen. Die Goldammer hat kaum braun am Kopf. Das Weibchen ist weniger gelb und mehr braun. Siehe BirdID für gute Bilder und Beschreibung der Erkennungsmerkmale.

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-20 - 09-07

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=15 cm, wingspan=22-25 cm, weight=21-29 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Vocalisation

Song: biologie-wissen.info: sings beg Feb to mid July; me: long trill similar to yellowhammer
Song: BirdID says song like yellowhammer with no ending. I see what they mean - it's more like 16 or so trilled repetitions of the same note, and no leap up to 'lieb' as in the German Goldammer mnemonic.
Song:

Wie Goldammer, aber ohne das „lieb“.und etwas tiefer. Ähnlich Klappergrasmücke. [Link]

Song variable, but can generally be described as a Yellowhammer phrase with no ending, or an Arctic Warbler with bunting timbre. Tempo also variable, but rhythm always even. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic, fast, Frequency: 3-6 KHz
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ Spain (song)

♫ 2025-06-01 11:30:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2022-04-10 14:37:37 (song?)

♫ 2022-04-10 14:46:03 (song?)

Eurasian skylark / Feldlerche (Alauda arvensis) See above European goldfinch / Stieglitz (Carduelis carduelis) See above

Red crossbill / Fichtenkreuzschnabel (Loxia curvirostra)

Alternate classification: Loxia curvirostris

Also known as: Common crossbill

Description

Classification: Genus Loxia (Loxia); Subfamily Carduelinae (Carduelinae); Family Fringillidae (Fringillidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
General: Forests with conifers. Some spend the winter in Switzerland, others are here year-round.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Appearance and identification:

Nabu.de: das Männchen schon von weitem durch seine ziegelrote Farbe auf. Das Weibchen dagegen ist unscheinbar graugrün gefärbt.Größe: 15 bis 17 Zentimeter Zugtyp: Teilzieher Beobachtungszeitraum: Oktober bis April, im Mittelgebirge und Alpenraum ganzjährig. [Link]

New research suggests that there may be as many as eight different full species of Red Crossbills on [North America]. [Link]
Behavior:

Wikipedia: a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae, also known as the Common Crossbill in Eurasia. Crossbills have distinctive mandibles, crossed at the tips, which enable them to extract seeds from conifer cones and other fruits. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 01-01 - 12-31
Migration in: 01-01 - 12-31

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=16 cm, wingspan=27-30 cm, weight=35-50 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: Repeated hi-low pattern...well, doesn't always sound like that. The very short beginning of my Stazersee recording before the static sets in does, as well as a song found online. One recording reminds me of cicada sounds.
Song:

The song consist of improvised, resonant twittering, and series of contact calls with no apparent phrases. It is generally faster, with less marked pauses than in Parrot Crossbill, and the phrasing seems more random. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: stereotype melodic, slow, Frequency: 2-10 KHz
Calls:

Contact call similar to Parroy Crossbill's "tupp", but is on average higher and less powerful, with a "cut-off" ending. In sum: Parrot Crossbill; hard attack, soft ending, Crossbill: softer attack, cut-off ending. Beware regional variations and overlap in pitch of calls with Parrot. [Link] No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN
Fichtenkreuzschnabel Rufe bei Bever.

♫ 2025-10-16 14:45:00 Switzerland (call)

Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-06-13 12:28:51 Sils (song?)

♫ (song)

♫ 2026-03-17 08:55:00 Kaltbrunner-Riet (song?)

♫ (song)

♫ 2026-03-17 08:55:00 Kaltbrunner-Riet (song?)

Eurasian golden oriole / Pirol (Oriolus oriolus)

Alternate classification: Oriolus oriolus oriolus

Description

Classification: Genus Oriolus (Oriolus); Family Corvidae (Corvidae)
General: Pirol: auffälligen Sexualdimorphismus. Wo/Habitat: lichter Auenwälder, Bruchwälder und gewässernaher Gehölze. Ebenso zählen Laub-, Misch- und Nadelwälder sowie Parks, große Gärten, Friedhöfe, Streuobstwiesen, hohe Obstbäume, Windschutzgürtel und Alleen zu seinen Brutgebieten, wo er sich überwiegend im Kronendach höherer Bäume aufhält. Der Verbreitungsschwerpunkt liegt hier im kontinentaleren Osteuropa. knapp amselgross; Presence april 15 - September 15 https://www.vogelwarte.ch/de/vögel/vögel-der-schweiz/pirol
General: In Western Europe they prefer open broadleaf forests and plantations, copses, riverine forest, orchards, large gardens.They reside in Switzerland from mid-April to mid-September, breeding in mid-May to mid-July. They predominate near the German and French borders, from Lake Constance to Geneva. I want to try to see one at Neeracherried or Thurauen.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL V
Etymology:

[9] Albertus Magnus used the Latin form oriolus in about 1250 and erroneously stated that it was onomatopoeic because of the golden oriole's song. [Link]
Geography:

Wikipedia: only member of the oriole family of passerine birds breeding in Northern Hemisphere temperate regions. It is a summer migrant in Europe and western Asia and spends the winter season in central and southern Africa. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-20 - 09-17
Breeding: 05-21 - 07-20
Migration in: 04-20 - 06-09
Migration out: 07-10 - 09-17

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=24 cm, wingspan=44-47 cm, weight=56-79 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: A soft, lowish whistling. In my opinion, the golden oriole has a beautiful voice, but no imagination as to melody - it's always the same few notes.
Song:

Varied repertoire, but song and common contact call very distinct. Song a series of 1-2 seconds long phrases of 3-5 yodeling, clear, fluting notes, interspersed with 2-3 second pauses. Tone very full-bodied, melodic and pleasing. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: stereotype melodic, slow, Frequency: 0-1 KHz Singing season: 04-22 - 09-21
♫ (song)

Calls:

Flötenrufen Oft wird der Gesang allerdings vom Star treffend ähnlich nachgeahmt. [Link]

Contact call surprisingly different: A forced, drawn "weeackt", slightly resembling Jay, but less harsh, and much more nasal. Other sounds include a Wryneck-like warning call. [Link] 3 somewhat harsh ascending notes, more melodic than a Eurasian jay call
XC565722 eurasian golden oriole call.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: Call melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz),
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-05-25 14:35:03 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-06-23 17:40:15 Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2021-05-20 10:51:57 Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2023-06-19 11:18:28

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Bolle di Magadino (song)

♫ 2024-06-05 09:34:58

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Auslikon (song?)

♫ 2025-06-17 08:14:04

Source: Zoom H2n Freudwil (song?)

♫ 2022-06-19 12:26:59 (song?)

♫ 2026-05-25 07:19:46

Source: Zoom H2n La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2021-05-10 09:09:04 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2010-06-14 12:00:00 Switzerland (song)

♫ 2021-05-10 09:09:45 Bolle di Magadino (song?)

♫ 2024-06-05 09:34:58

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Pfäffikersee (song?)

♫ 2026-05-25 07:29:14

Source: Zoom H2n La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2024-06-05 09:34:58

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Pfäffikersee (song)

♫ 2026-05-25 07:39:32

Source: Zoom H2n La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2023-06-19 08:22:04

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Bolle di Magadino (song)

Willow tit / Weidenmeise (Poecile montanus)

Alternate classification: Parus montanus, Poecile montana, Parus montanus

Also known as: Alpine tit, Mönchsmeise, Alpenmeise

Description

Classification: Genus Poecile (Poecile); Family Titmice (Paridae)
General: Vogelwarte.ch says, Two forms of Poecile montanus exist in Switzerland: the Willow Tit occurs in the Jura, the Pre-Alps and locally on the Central Plateau, while the Alpine Tit is confined to the Alps. The two forms have a distinct song as well as different ecological requirements, and could evolve into two species over time. Since I've heard them in St. Moritz, they're more properly alpine tits than willow tits. I should verify the audio recordings vs xenocanto, etc, as it was BirdNet that identified them as willow tits, and it is not infallible.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel
Vocalization:

Other sounds: high pitced "zi zi" similar to other tits. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-20 - 08-18

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=11 cm, wingspan=17-20 cm, weight=8-14 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: Songs I've heard alternate two notes and look like a sine wave on the sonogram. Vogelwarte.ch: Apart from minor differences in diet and size, Alpine Tit and Willow Tit can only be identified by their song. The Willow Tit utters a series of long, descending notes («tyoo tyoo tyoo tyoo»), whereas the Alpine Tit’s territorial song consists of short notes on an even pitch («dee dee dee dee dee»). See more here.
Song:

1.Gesangstyp: „ziü ziü ziü „ etwas wehmütig, die einzelnen Töne leicht absinkend, nicht klappernd. Bei Unterart Alpenmeise auf gleicher Höhe bleibend. 2.Gesangstyp: variable, schwätzende, helle Folge m. trillerndem Schluss. [Link]

Song: One or two soft, clear, melancholic notes repeated in a slow, even rhythm. At first rising slightly in pitch, then gradually falling. In some areas song is evenly pitched. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: 3-7 KHz
♫ (song)

Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-06-09 16:09:28 Sils (song?)

♫ 2020-06-09 12:33:28 Sils (song?)

♫ 2020-06-09 16:06:43 Sils (song?)

♫ 2020-06-11 13:25:38 Sils (song?)

♫ 2020-06-11 13:26:11 Sils (song?)

♫ 2020-06-11 15:47:24 Sils (song?)

♫ Switzerland (song)

♫ 2021-06-27 06:19:21 Wildhaus (song?)

♫ 2021-04-01 13:35:30 Lugano (song?)

♫ 2021-04-04 14:05:46 Carona (song?)

♫ 2020-06-09 16:09:28 Sils (song?)

Eurasian hoopoe / Wiedehopf (Upupa epops)

Also known as: Common hoopoe

Description

Classification: Genus Upupa (Upupa); Family Upupidae (Upupidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL 2
Etymology:

Am wahrscheinlichsten ist ein althochdeutsches, lautmalerisches wūthūp als Ursprung anzunehmen. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-12 - 09-28
Breeding: 04-20 - 07-29
Migration in: 03-12 - 05-10
Migration out: 07-20 - 09-28

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=26-28 cm, wingspan=42-46 cm, weight=55-87 g
Habitats: Agricultural
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Willow warbler / Fitis (Phylloscopus trochilus) See above

Garden warbler / Gartengrasmücke (Sylvia borin)

Alternate classification: Sylvia simplex

Description

Classification: Genus Sylvia (Sylvia); Subfamily Sylviinae (Sylviinae); Family Old world warblers (Sylviidae)
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)
♫ (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 Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-05-07 10:58:02 Hungerseeli (song)

♫ 2020-04-27 14:45:54 Auslikon (song?)

♫ 2024-06-21 08:13:18

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Bannriet, SG (song)

♫ 2026-05-24 20:42:00

Source: Zoom H2n Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge (song?)

♫ (song)

♫ 2023-06-13 12:04:28

Source: Zoom H6/H2n (song)

♫ 2025-05-14 15:32:46

Source: Zoom H2n Pfaeffikon (song?)

♫ 2026-05-19 13:02:56

Source: Zoom H2n Wildert (song?)

♫ 2026-05-22 17:46:34

Source: Zoom H2n La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2022-06-04 11:13:02

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Kaltbrunner-Riet (song?)

♫ 2025-07-23 17:28:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 15:34:20

Source: Zoom H2n Pfaeffikon (song?)

♫ 2020-06-03 10:09:08 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2023-07-03 13:48:40

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Pfaeffikon (song)

♫ 2024-05-16 12:13:14

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Kaltbrunner-Riet (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 15:33:14

Source: Zoom H2n Pfaeffikon (song?)

♫ 2020-04-27 14:45:54 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-06-04 09:50:08 Merlin suggested additional birds: Buchfink, Gartengrasmücke, Zilpzalp, Teichrohrsänger, Blaumeise, Amsel, Mönchsgrasmücke.

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2022-06-04 12:46:32

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Kaltbrunner-Riet (song?)

♫ 2022-06-24 07:19:22 Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2025-06-14 11:10:00 Switzerland (song)

♫ 2024-05-16 11:10:18

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Kaltbrunner-Riet (song)

♫ 2022-06-04 11:08:58

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Kaltbrunner-Riet (song?)

♫ 2020-05-26 17:16:49 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2022-06-04 12:38:14

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Kaltbrunner-Riet (song?)

♫ 2025-06-28 14:53:50

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song)

♫ 2021-05-04 11:11:51 Flachsee am Reuss (song)

♫ 2020-06-27 16:22:58 Alpweg (song?)

♫ 2026-04-30 07:29:06

Source: Zoom H2n Flachsee am Reuss (song?)

♫ 2024-06-05 09:47:00

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Pfäffikersee (song)

♫ 2020-05-26 17:16:37 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2024-06-04 09:48:22

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2022-06-04 10:57:21 Kaltbrunner-Riet (song)

♫ 2020-04-27 14:45:54 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-05-08 17:44:46

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2024-06-04 09:30:48 Merlin suggested additional birds: Buchfink, Rabenkrähe, Gartengrasmücke, Zilpzalp, Blaumeise, Gartenbaumläufer, Amsel, Mönchsgrasmücke, Kohlmeise.

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-06-03 10:09:18 Hungerseeli (song?)

Savi's warbler / Rohrschwirl (Locustella luscinioides)

Alternate classification: Locustella luscinoides

Description

Classification: Genus Locustella (Locustella); Family Locustellidae (Locustellidae)
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
♫ (song)

Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2025-05-16 21:03:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2022-06-04 13:53:03 Uznach (song?)

♫ 2024-05-22 18:34:34

Source: Zoom H6/H2n La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2024-05-22 17:20:22

Source: Zoom H6/H2n La Sauge (song?)

Eurasian reed warbler / Teichrohrsänger (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) See above

Marsh warbler / Sumpfrohrsänger (Acrocephalus palustris)

Alternate classification: Notiocichla palustris

Description

Classification: Genus Acrocephalus (Acrocephalus); Subfamily Acrocephalinae (Acrocephalinae); Family Old world warblers (Sylviidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel
Appearance and identification: Sumpfis und Teichis im Feld optisch zu unterscheiden ist nicht ganz trivial, noch schwieriger auf Fotos. Am besten sind die beiden am Gesang auseinander zu dividieren. Teichrohrsänger haben manchmal einen klaren Kontrast zw. Krallen und Bein. Wenn man die Viecher in der Hand hat, wirken Teichrohrsänger oft etwas rötlich [oft nicht klar auf Fotos]. Last but not least ist die Wahrscheinlichkeit einen Sumpfi zu sehen einfach höher. Gruß & GB Heinrich [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 05-01 - 09-28
Breeding: 05-01 - 07-29
Migration in: 05-01 - 06-29
Migration out: 07-10 - 09-28

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=13 cm, wingspan=18-21 cm, weight=10-15 g
Habitats: Wetland

Vocalisation

Song: Weird, squeaky, urgent, more variable than reed warbler, with imitations of European and African birds.
Song:

Der Virtuose unter den Rohrsängern! Meisterhafter Imitator anderer Vogelstimmen. Viele wirbelnde und zwirlende Laute, wenig schnarrende. Variable Tempi. [Link]

Song extremely varied and full of mimicry of both European and African species. Up to 75 species imitated by the same bird. Phrases often repeated 2-4 times, and different phrases may overlap. Nevertheless, clearly defined phrases with marked pauses. Sometimes more flowing streams of notes, but less so than Icterine Warbler. Most similar to Icterine and Blyth's Reed Warbler. Softer timbre than Icterine, and not so loud. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: sings 30 seconds or longer, fast, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz) Special sounds: mimicry, weird
♫ (song)

Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-04-27 14:29:30 Auslikon (song?)

♫ 2022-06-04 12:04:18

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Kaltbrunner-Riet (song?)

♫ 2024-06-07 16:53:07 Fehraltorf (song?)

Sorry, file too big!
♫ 2022-06-04 10:51:40

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Kaltbrunner-Riet (song?)

♫ 2023-06-13 12:10:12

Source: Zoom H6/H2n (song)

♫ 2025-06-13 12:31:16

Source: Zoom H2n Wildert (song)

♫ 2023-06-13 12:04:28

Source: Zoom H6/H2n (song)

♫ 2022-06-04 10:38:53 Kaltbrunner-Riet (song?)

♫ 2025-06-13 12:46:20

Source: Zoom H2n Wildert (song)

♫ 2022-06-04 12:42:16

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Kaltbrunner-Riet (song?)

♫ 2024-06-05 09:17:08

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Pfäffikersee (song)

♫ 2022-06-23 17:17:48

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2022-06-04 12:09:32

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Kaltbrunner-Riet (song?)

♫ 2022-06-04 11:22:04

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Kaltbrunner-Riet (song?)

♫ 2022-06-04 12:23:10

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Kaltbrunner-Riet (song?)

♫ 2025-06-13 12:51:00 Wildert (song?)

Great reed warbler / Drosselrohrsänger (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) See above Sedge warbler / Schilfrohrsänger (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) See above

Tawny owl / Waldkauz (Strix aluco)

Description

Classification: Genus Strix (Strix); Family Strigidae (Strigidae)
General: Zuerst gehört in Carona südlich von Lugano
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel
Etymology:

In addition, the common onomatopoeia for an owl hooting is derived from the calls of this species; the complete sound is actually a duet between a male and a female. [Link]
Vocalization:

Other often heard sounds; a sharp, short, disyllabic "kiu-wik". First syllable ascending then descending, and last ascending in pitch. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 02-01 - 06-29

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=37-39 cm, wingspan=94-104 cm, weight=340-620 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song:

Song a resonant descending "hoooooo". After 2-3 sec. [Link] Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2021-04-05 03:44:43 Carona (song)

Calls:

typically followed by a slightly ascending, vibrating "hohohohohoho" and quickly another descending "hooooooo". Complete phrase: "hoooooo, hohohohohoho-hoooooo". May omit parts. [Link] No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN
Quietschender Ruf eines Waldkauz im Wald bei Brünggen, nah bei Kollbrunn und Kyburg.

♫ 2025-09-07 20:46:00 Switzerland (call)

Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube
♫ 2021-04-03 22:06:25 Lugano (song?)

Little owl / Steinkauz (Athene noctua)

Alternate classification: Strix noctua

Description

Classification: Genus Athene (Athene); Family Strigidae (Strigidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel RL 2
Etymology:

[29] Zum Gesangsrepertoire gehören auch sehr gedehnte Langsilben mit einem flötend hochgezogenem Glissando, die sich lautmalerisch als gluui oder goojahüi umschreiben lassen. [Link]
Behavior:

Seltener Vogel brütet in der Nordwestschweiz. Nach 40 Jahren ist der Steinkauz zurück in der Nordwestschweiz. Die seltenen Vögel haben wieder in der Region gebrütet, wie Bird Life meldet. Über eine Million Franken haben die vier Nordwestschweizer Kantone und Partner dafür investiert. [Artikel im Tagi]
Vocalization:

Rich repertoire of social sounds: E.g. a clear "klewew", and sharp short "kek kek kek". [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-20 - 07-29

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=21-23 cm, wingspan=54-58 cm, weight=140-220 g
Habitats: Agricultural
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube

Great crested grebe / Haubentaucher (Podiceps cristatus) See above Mallard / Stockente (Anas platyrhynchos) See above

Red-breasted merganser / Mittelsäger (Mergus serrator)

Description

Classification: Genus Mergus (Mergus); Tribe Seaducks (Mergini); Subfamily Dabbling ducks plus extinct (Anatinae); Family Waterfowl (Anatidae)
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

Goosander / Gänsesäger (Mergus merganser) See above Eurasian teal / Krickente (Anas crecca) See above Common goldeneye / Schellente (Bucephala clangula) See above Common pochard / Tafelente (Aythya ferina) See above Northern shoveler / Löffelente (Spatula clypeata) See above

Eurasian wigeon / Pfeifente (Mareca penelope)

Alternate classification: Anas penelope, Anas penelope

Description

Classification: Genus Mareca (Mareca); Tribe Dabbling ducks (Anatini); Subfamily Dabbling ducks plus extinct (Anatinae); Family Waterfowl (Anatidae)
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:
♫ (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 Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Gadwall / Schnatterente (Mareca strepera) See above

Northern pintail / Spiessente (Anas acuta)

Description

Classification: Genus Ducks (Anas); Tribe Dabbling ducks (Anatini); Subfamily Dabbling ducks plus extinct (Anatinae); Family Waterfowl (Anatidae)
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 Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube

Water rail / Wasserralle (Rallus aquaticus)

Also known as: Western water rail

Description

Classification: Genus Rallus (Rallus); Family Rails (Rallidae)
General: In reeds at a lake.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL V
Appearance and identification:

The upper parts from the forehead to tail are olive-brown with black streaks, especially on the shoulders. The sides of the head and the underparts down to the upper belly are dark slate-blue, except for a blackish area between bill and eye, and brownish sides to the upper breast. The flanks are barred black and white, and the undertail is white with some darker streaks. The long bill and the iris are red, and the legs are flesh-brown. [Link]
Behavior:

Shy but generally not uncommon, this reclusive marsh bird is more often heard than seen: listen for its varied piglike squeals and grunts coming from dense vegetation. Favors fresh marshes and ponds with taller vegetation, especially reeds and rushes [Link]
Vocalization:

Varied but distinct. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-20 - 07-29
Migration in: 02-20 - 05-10
Migration out: 07-29 - 11-15

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=23-28 cm, wingspan=38-45 cm, weight=80-180 g
Habitats: Wetland

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song:

Most heard is the territorial song consisting of short, nasal, sharp grunts "tuck- tuck-tuck", ending with a drawn-out trill rising and falling in pitch "kiiiieeerrrr". [Link] Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ (call)

Calls:

Another diagnostic call is heard from excited birds; a longer pig-like shrilling squeal, with waning repetitions. A bit like someone squeezing a rubber toy. Also short and sharp calls "kvii". [Link] Everyone says they sound like pigs!

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz), Special sounds: weird.
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2025-08-05 16:36:00 Wildert (song?)

♫ 2025-10-31 15:09:00 Switzerland (song?)

Tufted duck / Reiherente (Aythya fuligula)

Alternate classification: Anas fuligula

Description

Classification: Genus Aythya (Aythya); Tribe Diving ducks (Aythyini); Subfamily Dabbling ducks plus extinct (Anatinae); Family Waterfowl (Anatidae)
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 Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Northern lapwing / Kiebitz (Vanellus vanellus)

Description

Classification: Genus Vanellus (Vanellus); Family Charadriidae (Charadriidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL 2
Etymology:

The name lapwing has been variously attributed to the "lapping" sound its wings make in flight, from the irregular progress in flight due to its large wings (the Oxford English Dictionary derives this from an Old English word meaning "to totter"),[4] or from its habit of drawing potential predators away from its nest by trailing a wing as if broken. [Link]

The names peewit, pewit, tuit or tew-it are onomatopoeic and refer to the bird's characteristic call. [Link]
Vocalization:

Quite vocal, especially in flight at breeding ground. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 03-12 - 06-29
Migration in: 05-01 - 06-29
Migration out: 02-01 - 04-11

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=28-31 cm, wingspan=82-87 cm, weight=140-320 g
Habitats: Wetland

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2025-05-16 19:34:00 Switzerland (song)

Calls:

Ruf ist entweder mhhhh oder Bogen-artiges hoch und runter. [Link]

Territorial call: Dry, introductory phrases followed by drawn-out mewing sounds; "wyrrr-peeeoo-weeep". Alarm call "pee-wit". [Link] No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC801017 - Northern Lapwing - Vanellus vanellus - bizarre-sounding call.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube
♫ 2025-05-16 19:42:00 Switzerland (song?)

Egyptian goose / Nilgans (Alopochen aegyptiaca) See above

Graylag goose / Graugans (Anser anser)

Alternate classification: Anas anser

Also known as: Greylag goose, Graugänse

Description

Classification: Genus Geese (Anser); Tribe Anserini (Anserini); Subfamily Anserinae (Anserinae); Family Waterfowl (Anatidae)
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 Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Red-crested pochard / Kolbenente (Netta rufina)

Description

Classification: Genus Netta (Netta); Tribe Diving ducks (Aythyini); Subfamily Dabbling ducks plus extinct (Anatinae); Family Waterfowl (Anatidae)
General: Deutschland: Jahresvogel RL R; seit 1920 in Deutschland brütend
Etymology: Nabu: Die Kolbenente hat ihren Namen wohl aufgrund des auffällig großen Kopfes des Männchens. Dieser Eindruck wird durch eine ausgeprägte rotbraune Federhaube auf dem Kopf erzeugt. Die Federhaube dürfte vor allem während der Balzzeit von Vorteil sein, wenn der Erpel ein ausgeprägtes Balzverhalten zeigt, um das Weibchen zu beeindrucken. [Link]
Appearance and identification: Funny red head that's brown with a golden forehead 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.
Appearance and identification:

Erpel mit orangerotem, buschig dickem Kopf und korallenrotem Schnabel, Hals und Unterseite schwarz; Ente bräunlich mit weissgrauen Wangen, die sich scharf von der dunklen Kopfplatte abheben, Schnabel dunkelgrau; ruft knarrend "körr". [Link]
Vocalization:

Female: Indistinct "ahrrrr -ahrrrr -ahrrrr" similar to other female diving ducks. Male: a nasal dry "qweeeek" similar in timbre to Goldeneye male, but mostly monosyllabic and with an almost barking quality. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=53-57 cm, wingspan=84-88 cm, weight=900-1400 g
Habitats: River and lake
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Common eider / Eiderente (Somateria mollissima)

Alternate classification: Somateria mollisima

Description

Classification: Genus Somateria (Somateria); Tribe Seaducks (Mergini); Subfamily Dabbling ducks plus extinct (Anatinae); Family Waterfowl (Anatidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Etymology: Nabu: Auch heute noch erinnert ihr wissenschaftlicher Name an die Bedeutung ihrer isolierenden Daunen für die Menschen. Übersetzt bedeutet ihr Name nämlich „die Allerweichste mit dem schwarzen Körper“. [Link]

Ihr Ruf klingt heiserer und ist lautmalerisch mit gro-gro-ó umschrieben. [Link]
Geography:

Die im Norden Europas häufige und wegen ihren Daunenfedern bekannte Eiderente war in der Schweiz früher ein seltener Gast. Doch in der zweiten Hälfte des 20. Jahrhunderts erfolgten mehrere grosse Einflüge. Dank der Wandermuschelvermehrung war das Nahrungsangebot ausreichend und die Vögel verbrachten zunehmend den Sommer bei uns. Mittlerweile gehört die Eiderente sogar zu den Brutvögeln, was für einen ans Meer angepassten Vogel bemerkenswert ist. [Link]

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=50-71 cm, wingspan=80-108 cm, weight=1500-2800 g
Habitats: River and lake
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Ferruginous duck / Moorente (Aythya nyroca)

Alternate classification: Anas nyroca

Also known as: Ferruginous pochard

Description

Classification: Genus Aythya (Aythya); Tribe Diving ducks (Aythyini); Subfamily Dabbling ducks plus extinct (Anatinae); Family Waterfowl (Anatidae)
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 Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Common sandpiper / Flussuferläufer (Actitis hypoleucos)

Alternate classification: Tringa hypoleucos

Description

Classification: Genus Actitis (Actitis); Family Shorebirds (Scolopacidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL 2
Etymology: Birdweather: Mein Birdweather Gerät hat öfter das Gefühl dass es einen Flussuferläufer hört; Merlin hat es auch einmal gemeldet. [Link]

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=19-21 cm, wingspan=38-41 cm, weight=40-60 g
Habitats: Wetland

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2024-08-08 07:22:45 (call)

Calls:

Very vocal with characteristic repertoire of very high-pitched calls. Often heard is a disyllabic call, drawn out and slightly rising in pitch in the second part. This is often repeated in a series of rising tones in a cyclic manner, with approx 5 tones in each cycle. [Link] 1: High-pitched, at least in Birdweather detection
XC927032 - Common Sandpiper 2-note call - Actitis hypoleucos.

♫ (call)

2: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC924773 - Common Sandpiper flight call, swoop, 2 to 8 notes - Actitis hypoleucos.

♫ (flight call)

Call attributes: Call melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz),
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ (call)

♫ 2024-09-08 07:39:00 Wald Fehraltorf (song?)

Curlew sandpiper / Sichelstrandläufer (Calidris ferruginea)

Description

Nicolas Baiker sagt, Hauptmerkmale innerhalb der Strandläufer sind der Augenstreif und der Schnabel der relativ lang ist und immer lezten Drittel immer krummer, darum Sichelstrandläufer. [Link]

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=18-19 cm, wingspan=42-46 cm, weight=50-65 g
Habitats: Wetland

Vocalisation

Calls:

Flight call a soft, ringing and rolling "krrrrrt, with variations. Lacks the hoarse, nasal quality of similar call by Dunlin. [Link] At XenoCanto I heard 5 rising notes within a second.
Call attributes: Call melody: one note, fast, Frequency: 4-6 KHz, Special sounds: whoop.
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Eurasian curlew / Grosser Brachvogel (Numenius arquata)

Also known as: Grosse Brachvögel

Description

Classification: Genus Curlews (Numenius); Family Shorebirds (Scolopacidae)
General: In Jona findet man viele auf der Wiese unter Obstbäumen, anscheinend weil es dort viele Insekten und Schnecken gibt (siehe oben).
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL 1
Geography:

Die Brachvögel brütet im Moment recht viel in Vergleich mit früher. [Link]
Diet: Nabu: Auf dem Speiseplan des Großen Brachvogels stehen vor allem Insekten und deren Larven und andere Kleintiere wie Schnecken und Regenwürmer, aber auch Krebstierchen. Ab und zu frisst er auch Amphibien, Reptilien oder Fische. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Migration in: 02-20 - 05-10
Migration out: 07-10 - 12-07

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=50-60 cm, wingspan=80-100 cm, weight=540-1300 g
Habitats: Wetland

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song:

Song starts similar to Whimbrel, with long wailing notes "kluuueee", but takes on a different ending as it accelerates to an ascending phrase repeated in rapid cycles . [Link] Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ (flight call)

Das Männchen steigt mit einzelnen, klangvollen Rufen auf, die vor der Landung in einen weithin hörbaren Triller übergehen. [Link]

Call attributes: flight call Call melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: low (1-3 KHz),
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Black-necked grebe / Schwarzhalstaucher (Podiceps nigricollis)

Also known as: Eared grebe

Description

Classification: Genus Podiceps (Podiceps); Family Grebes (Podicipedidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
General:

The black-necked grebe or eared grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) is a member of the grebe family of water birds. It was described in 1831 by Christian Ludwig Brehm. There are currently three accepted subspecies, including the nominate subspecies. Its breeding plumage features a distinctive ochre-coloured plumage which extends behind its eye and over its ear coverts. The rest of the upper parts, including the head, neck, and breast, are coloured black to blackish brown. The flanks are tawny rufous to maroon-chestnut, and the abdomen is white. When in its non-breeding plumage, this bird has greyish-black upper parts, including the top of the head and a vertical stripe on the back of the neck. The flanks are also greyish-black. The rest of the body is a white or whitish colour. The juvenile has more brown in its darker areas. The subspecies californicus can be distinguished from the nominate by the former's usually longer bill. The other subspecies, P. n. gurneyi, can be differentiated by its greyer head and upper parts and by its smaller size. P. n. gurneyi can also be told apart by its lack of a non-breeding plumage. This species is present in parts of Africa, Eurasia, and the Americas. [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel, seltener Wintergast

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 05-01 - 07-29
Migration in: 03-01 - 06-09
Migration out: 06-29 - 11-26

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=28-34 cm, wingspan=56-60 cm, weight=213-450 g
Habitats: River and lake
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Corn bunting / Grauammer (Emberiza calandra) See above Common reed bunting / Rohrammer (Emberiza schoeniclus) See above

Common swift / Mauersegler (Apus apus)

Alternate classification: Hirundo apus

Description

Classification: Genus Apus (Apus); Subfamily Apodinae (Apodinae); Family Swifts (Apodidae)
General: Vielleicht haben wir bald Mauersegler Brutkästen am Haus!
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel
Etymology:

Die Etymologie des Wortes ist unklar, vorgeschlagen werden erstens ein eigenständiges Etymon, zweitens Verwandtschaft mit norddeutsch Spier(e) „Spitze, Rundholz, Stange“ und damit Bezugnahme auf die langen spitzen Flügel der Vögel und drittens eine lautmalerische Bezugnahme auf die charakteristischen Rufe. [Link]
Vocalization:

A shrilling trill "zreeeee" of about 1 -2 seconds length, gradually rising in pitch with accentuated firs half, then falling from the middle of phrase. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-20 - 09-28
Breeding: 05-01 - 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=16-17 cm, wingspan=42-48 cm, weight=31-56 g
Habitats: Settlement

Vocalisation

Song: Song:

Sie singen im Flug (eigentlich LEBEN sie im Flug), und wenn du sie nicht siehst, schau weiter hoch, dann noch einmal - sie können mehrere 100m hoch fliegen oft in Gruppen von 3-10. Kappe abziehen wenn nötig! [Link]

A shrilling trill "zreeeee" of about 1 -2 seconds length, gradually rising in pitch with accentuated firs half, then falling from the middle of phrase. Often continued with a dry lower pitched "trrrrrr" before calling again. [Link]
Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic, fast, Frequency: 5-7 KHz
Calls:

Often continued with a dry lower pitched "trrrrrr" before calling again. Very vocal at breeding area, and often a flock will call together. Despite being quite similar to Pallid Swift, the call is probably the best field character to separate the two. Pallid puts the stress on the ending of the call, followed by a quick fall in pitch (dynamics like moaning with a quick release). Plain Swift calls similar to Common Swift, but differs in slightly fluctuating pitch during the call, and a loss of resonance towards the ending (thinner sounding). [Link] Heard from high in the air
XC564619 - Common Swift - Apus apus - calls.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, fast, Frequency: 4-7 KHz,
Details

Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2024-07-15 15:01:00 Greater Fehraltorf (call)

♫ (song)

♫ 2025-04-28 07:30:06

Source: Zoom H2n Locarno (song?)

♫ 2026-04-11 18:47:00 Croatia (song?)

Eurasian siskin / Erlenzeisig (Spinus spinus)

Alternate classification: Carduelis spinus, Carduelis spinus

Also known as: Erlenzeisige

Description

Classification: Genus Siskins (Spinus); Subfamily Carduelinae (Carduelinae); Family Fringillidae (Fringillidae)
General: Also lives in North America!
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Etymology:

[A siskin giving the 'siskin' calls from which its name derives, The name siskin is derived from an adaptation of the German dialect words sisschen, zeischen, which are diminutive forms of Middle High German (zîsec) and Middle Low German (ziseke, sisek) words, with cognates in Slavic languages, such as Czech čížek; these names are all of onomatopoeic origin, derived from the bird's calls. [Link]

[This bird has two calls, both powerful but conflicting, one is descending and the other is ascending, their onomatopoeic sounds can be represented as "tilu" and "tluih". [Link]
Appearance and identification: Gelb aber schwarz/weiss auf dem Kopf, bauch/flügel wie weiss mit schwarzen Streifen, mehr braun bei weibchen?

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 02-20 - 07-20
Migration in: 02-20 - 05-01
Migration out: 09-07 - 12-07

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=12 cm, wingspan=20-23 cm, weight=11-18 g
Habitats: Mountain

Vocalisation

Song:

bird-song.ch sagt Gesang zwitschernd und trillernd und ähnlich wie Girlitz - ich finde auch, es hat das hohe chaotische von den mit ab und zu was rohem. [Link]
Song:

Distinct calls and song. The contact call is also prominent in the improvised song. Other typical sounds in the song includes a peculiar wheeze, like someone sucking their teeth, and lots of expert mimicry. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: sings 30 seconds or longer, fast, Frequency: high (3-9 KHz) Special sounds: mimicry
♫ (song)

Calls:

Most often heard is the sharp and disyllabic contact call: "doo-lee", with both notes descending. Sometimes given a in monosyllabic manner "dlyy". [Link] No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC941264 - Eurasian Siskin - Spinus spinus - 2-note swooping call.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2021-02-21 12:08:30 Adelboden (song?)

♫ 2024-11-01 07:18:46 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-03-17 11:52:48

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-02-07 12:31:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2024-12-18 13:34:00 Wildert (song?)

♫ 2024-12-18 13:33:00 Wildert (song?)

Mute swan / Höckerschwan (Cygnus olor)

Also known as: Höckerschwäne

Description

Classification: Genus Swans (Cygnus); Tribe Swans (Cygnini); Subfamily Anserinae (Anserinae); Family Waterfowl (Anatidae)
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 Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube

Black-headed gull / Lachmöwe (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) See above

Yellow-legged gull / Mittelmeermöwe (Larus michahellis)

Alternate classification: Larus argentatus michahellis

Description

Classification: Genus Larus (Larus); Subfamily Larinae (Larinae); Family Gulls (Laridae)
General:

The yellow-legged gull is a large gull found in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, which has only recently achieved wide recognition as a distinct species. It was formerly treated as a subspecies of either the Caspian gull L. cachinnans, or more broadly as a subspecies of the herring gull L. argentatus. The genus name is from Latin Larus which appears to have referred to a gull or other large seabird, and the species name honours the German zoologist Karl Michahelles.^[2] [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Vocalization:

Voice more nasal than Herring Gull, but ID by sound difficult. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=59-67 cm, wingspan=140-158 cm, weight=750-1500 g
not sexually dimporphic.
No breeding plumage Identifying characteristics: general: head = gray (sprinkled), beak = yellow (yellow orange with a red tip esp. on the lower half), legs = yellow (yellow orange), wings = gray, tail = black (with white stripes)
Habitats: River and lake

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2025-09-26 16:12:00 Chioggia (song)

Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2024-05-28 03:57:00 Merlin suggested additional birds: Mittelmeermöwe, Zwergohreule, Misteldrossel, Amsel. Levanto (song)

♫ 2025-09-26 16:12:00 Chioggia (song)

♫ 2024-05-30 04:43:32

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Levanto (song?)

♫ 2024-05-28 07:00:56

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Levanto (song?)

Common gull / Sturmmöwe (Larus canus)

Also known as: Mew gull

Description

Classification: Genus Larus (Larus); Subfamily Larinae (Larinae); Family Gulls (Laridae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
General: Not so common in Switzerland (most common would be the black-headed gull as far as I can see
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Etymology:

[10] The original English word mew is related to German möwe and Dutch meeuw, and is ultimately onomatopoeic. [Link]
Appearance and identification: Nabu: NABU über das Aussehen der Sturmmöwe: 'Sturmmöwen sind etwas größer als Lachmöwen, jedoch deutlich kleiner als Silbermöwen. Sie sind überwiegend weiß mit grauem Rücken und grauen Flügeln. Die Flügelenden sind schwarz mit weißer Spitze. Der Kopf ist rundlich, die dunklen Augen dünn rot umrandet. Der schlanke Schnabel und die Beine sind grünlichgelb, ein Schnabelfleck fehlt.' [Porträt]
Vocalization:

Various mewing sounds. Similar in form to Herring Gull, but much higher pitched. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Migration in: 01-01 - 05-10
Migration out: 10-18 - 12-31

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=40-42 cm, wingspan=100-115 cm, weight=300-480 g
not sexually dimporphic.
Identifying characteristics: general: head = white (Gray in winter and when young), beak = yellow (greenish yellow), legs = yellow (duller in winter), , , , Adult: wings = gray, , , Youth: wings = white (with brown streaks), , Winter: tail = black (and white striped), Prachtkleid: tail = white
Habitats: River and lake
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Mediterranean gull / Schwarzkopfmöwe (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus)

Alternate classification: Larus melanocephalus, Larus melanocephalus

Description

Classification: Genus Ichthyaetus (Ichthyaetus); Family Gulls (Laridae)
General:

The Mediterranean gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) is a small gull. The scientific name is from Ancient Greek. The genus Ichthyaetus is from ikhthus, "fish", and aetos, "eagle", and the specific melanocephalus is from melas, "black", and -kephalos "-headed".^[2] [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel, seltener Wintergast RL R

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=36-38 cm, wingspan=92-100 cm, weight=232-280 g
not sexually dimporphic.
No breeding plumage Identifying characteristics: Adult: head = black, , , , , tail = white, Youth: head = white (sprinkled with gray around the eyes), , , , , tail = black (tip of tail black-brown by young birds) general: wings = gray (very pale grey mantle and wings with white primary feathers without black tips.), beak = red (Dark red beak [in Levanto I said orange], usually with yellow to orange tip but can also be red. Between the tip and the shaft is a dark band.), legs = red (Their feet are dark red [legs presumably too].), ,
Habitats: River and lake
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Common tern / Flussseeschwalbe (Sterna hirundo) See above

Northern shrike / Raubwürger (Lanius excubitor)

Also known as: Great gray shrike, Great grey shrike

Description

Classification: Genus Lanius (Lanius); Family Shrikes (Laniidae)
General:

The northern shrike (Lanius borealis) is a large songbird species in the shrike family (Laniidae) native to North America and Siberia. Long considered a subspecies of the great grey shrike, it was classified as a distinct species in 2017. Six subspecies are recognised. [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL 2

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Migration in: 02-10 - 04-01
Migration out: 09-17 - 11-26

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=24-25 cm, wingspan=30-35 cm, weight=48-81 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Vocalisation

Song: I'd have called the song a call myself.
Song:

Song varied. During breeding season a varied subdued song is heard from both sexes. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: stereotype melodic (lmh), slow, Frequency: 2-5 KHz
♫ Spain (song)

♫ (song)

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

Great cormorant / Kormoran (Phalacrocorax carbo)

Description

Classification: Genus Phalacrocorax (Phalacrocorax); Family Cormorants and shags (Phalacrocoracidae)
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 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.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube
♫ 2024-09-14 08:33:00 La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2022-06-23 15:52:40

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge (song?)

Common nightingale / Nachtigall (Luscinia megarhynchos) See above

Long-tailed tit / Schwanzmeise (Aegithalos caudatus)

Alternate classification: Parus caudatus

Description

Classification: Genus Aegithalos (Aegithalos); Family Long-tailed tits (Aegithalidae)
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)
♫ (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

♫ (flight call)

2: A swoop with a trill at the end

♫ (call)

Call attributes: contact call Call melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: 7-9 KHz,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2024-08-07 06:36:57 Thon, Schwanden (call)

♫ 2025-02-05 15:32:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2021-05-08 17:26:05 Muralto (song?)

♫ 2023-03-08 16:43:57 (song?)

♫ 2021-02-08 15:59:41 Um Naturzentrum Silberweide am Greifensee (song?)

♫ 2025-04-24 10:12:00

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2024-10-31 13:31:47 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-04-21 12:12:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2022-06-04 11:59:03 Kaltbrunner-Riet (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 16:53:16

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2020-04-13 14:22:37 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-10-16 14:07:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-02-08 11:38:00 Jona (song?)

♫ 2025-02-03 15:23:00 Switzerland (song)

♫ 2024-10-31 13:31:41 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-10-22 15:35:31 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 16:46:00 Wetzikon (song?)

♫ 2020-10-22 15:35:31 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-02-03 15:21:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-02-08 11:28:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 16:50:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2021-05-10 08:22:19 Gambarogno (song?)

♫ 2025-08-31 14:35:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2024-08-03 11:27:47 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-04-21 12:12:00 Switzerland (song?)

Coal tit / Tannenmeise (Periparus ater) See above

European crested tit / Haubenmeise (Lophophanes cristatus)

Alternate classification: Parus cristatus, Parus cristatus

Also known as: Crested tit

Description

Classification: Genus Lophophanes (Lophophanes); Family Titmice (Paridae)
General: Für mich sind es eher Vögel, die man in den Bergen oder Engadin sieht, aber im Winter werden sie auch bei uns in Fehraltorf gehört (ich probiere noch eins zu sehen oder fotografieren!
General: Gesehen nah bei Pragelpasshöhe, zusammen mit Tannenmeisen, Haubenmeisen und Sommergoldhähnchen
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-01 - 07-20

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=11 cm, wingspan=17-20 cm, weight=10-13 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: Higher-pitched than great tit - how distinguish from coal tit, etc?
Song:

Song: an improvisation over previously described calls. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic (lhlhhh), fast, Frequency: high (3-9 KHz) Special sounds: slur
♫ 2025-09-06 11:13:00 Hirzli (call)

Calls:

Call a characteristic vibrating rolling trill "Trrrrurrrurrrit", with last syllable emphasized and ending with ascending pitch. Often preceded by a couple of introductory "tzi tzi". [Link] 5 oder mehr schnelle, aufsteigende Noten. Erinnert mich an die Blaumeise.
XC926922 - European Crested Tit - Lophophanes cristatus - 1x4-10 call recorded in Sweden.

♫ (call)

Hier von Merlin gehört.

♫ 2024-11-27 11:27:00 (song?)

Call attributes: Call melody: stereotype melodic, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz),
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ (song)

♫ 2025-03-04 08:28:51

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2024-08-03 18:05:00 (call)

Short-toed treecreeper / Gartenbaumläufer (Certhia brachydactyla)

Description

Classification: Genus Certhia (Certhia); Subfamily Certhiinae (Certhiinae); Family Certhiidae (Certhiidae)
General:

The short-toed treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla) is a small passerine bird found in woodlands through much of the warmer regions of Europe and into north Africa. It has a generally more southerly distribution than the other European treecreeper species, the common treecreeper, with which it is easily confused where they both occur. The short-toed treecreeper tends to prefer deciduous trees and lower altitudes than its relative in these overlap areas. Although mainly sedentary, vagrants have occurred outside the breeding range. [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 05-10 - 08-09

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=12 cm, wingspan=17-20 cm, weight=8-11 g
Habitats: Forest

Similar species

Looks similar to: Eurasian treecreeper.

Vocalisation

Song: It sounds to me like a 5-7 note song like 'five k low high higher', 'short song in the gar-DEN'. The individual notes have the same backward checkmark shape as the call. It's basically the same across Europe.

The song of the nominate subspecies is an evenly spaced sequence of notes teet-teet-teet-e-roi-tiit. [Link]

Its song is short, loud and rhythmic. [Link]

[In comparison with the visually similar Eurasian treecreeper, it] has a clearer, louder more staccato contact call of ‘sreet’ or ‘sree’ and a short ‘wit’ during normal activity [Link]
Song:

Kurz u. bündig! (Gartenwege sind kurz.) Tonreihe am Schluss ansteigend. „Hesch du gseh woni bi? [Link]

Song diagnostic, and introductory notes often used singly when interacting. Full song starts with one or two staccato introductory notes, the first higher pitched than the second, followed by a rapid, ascending crescendo ending in a drawn-out, less pure "sree". The tone is loud and much more penetrating and clear than C. familiaris. [Link] Song attributes: Mnemnoic: 'Gar-ten-baum-LÄU-FER' Melody: stereotype melodic (mlLh), slow, Frequency: 4-7 KHz
♫ (song)

Calls:

scharf „tiit, sri“ [Link]

Contact call very similar to C. familiaris. A thin "sreee" often repeated in an even rhythm, perhaps with slighly shorter pauses. Flight call a short and sharp "wit" used freely when moving about. Timbre recalls wet rubber-boots on vinyl flooring. Note that "mixed singers" of C. familiaris are not uncommon in areas where both species of treecreepers occur. [Link] General: See the sonogram how the song may descend rapidly from 7Khz to and then climb from 5 to 5.75 KHz, a kind of reversed checkmark. However I find it hard to distinguish from a single note. I'm not a bird ;-(
Call:

calls with a loud (Wikipedia says shrill) “tyt tyt” [Link]
A recording from Jorge Leitão in the Netherlands that I assume is the tyt tyt call.

♫ (song?)

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 5-7 KHz,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube
♫ 2021-05-19 07:45:18 Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2025-03-11 08:51:56

Source: Zoom H2n Luppmen (call)

♫ 2020-10-16 11:53:19 Tremona (song?)

♫ 2025-04-30 07:56:00 Uster (call)

♫ 2023-02-21 10:46:58 Staldenweiher (song)

♫ 2025-08-19 10:49:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2024-03-22 06:43:22

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (song)

♫ 2025-03-11 08:51:08

Source: Zoom H2n Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-03-22 06:44:18

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (drumming)

♫ 2021-07-03 08:21:45 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2024-08-07 08:17:00 Thon, Schwanden (call)

♫ 2024-06-05 10:30:30

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Pfäffikersee (song)

♫ 2025-03-17 12:22:28

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2026-05-23 07:22:32

Source: Zoom H2n La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2024-10-31 13:36:53 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-10-16 12:23:26 Tremona (song?)

♫ 2021-07-20 14:21:12 Weisslingen (call)

♫ 2020-10-24 17:40:12 Uster (call)

♫ 2021-03-29 10:52:01 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-10-21 15:15:02 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-03-09 10:03:18

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2024-08-11 15:08:00 Greater Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2025-07-29 08:20:00 Switzerland (call)

Eurasian treecreeper / Waldbaumläufer (Certhia familiaris)

Also known as: treecreeper

Description

Classification: Genus Certhia (Certhia); Subfamily Certhiinae (Certhiinae); Family Certhiidae (Certhiidae)
General:

The Eurasian treecreeper or common treecreeper (Certhia familiaris) is a small passerine bird also known in the British Isles, where it is the only living member of its genus, simply as treecreeper. It is similar to other treecreepers, and has a curved bill, patterned brown upperparts, whitish underparts, and long stiff tail feathers which help it creep up tree trunks. It can be most easily distinguished from the similar short-toed treecreeper, which shares much of its European range, by its different song. [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-20 - 07-20

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=12 cm, wingspan=17-21 cm, weight=8-11 g
Habitats: Forest

Similar species

Looks similar to: Short-toed treecreeper.

Vocalisation

Song: I say: it sounds like a faster higher chaffinch song. Wikipedia says: The male's song begins with srrih, srrih followed in turn by a few twittering notes, a longer descending ripple, and a whistle that falls and then rises.
Song:

Lang u. klar! (Waldwege sind lang). Tonreihe im Ganzen absinkend, nur letzter Ton höher. [Link]

Song a short, continuous three-part phrase. [Link] Song attributes: Mnemnoics: Waldwege sind lang, Sagging tree branch Melody: stereotype melodic, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz)
Calls:

weniger scharf, „srih,“ weniger eindringlich als oben [Link]

Contact call a drawn, high-pitched "tzreeee". Similar to Goldcrest in timbre, but of longer duration with a vibrating and slightly rolling tone. Generally repeated in evenly paced, slow series (unlike Goldcrest). Each phrase starts with a few contact call-like notes followed by a Willow Warbler-like descending part, which then jumps to a few descending high notes to form a marked conclusion. Note that "mixed singers" are not uncommon in areas where both species of treecreepers occur. [Link] 1: General: Wikipedia says: The contact call is a very quiet, thin and high-pitched sit, but the most distinctive call is a penetrating tsree, with a vibrato quality, sometimes repeated as a series of notes.
Fairly regularly spaced single tseep at 7-9KHz.
Call:

2: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC574757 Eurasian treecreeper alarm call.

♫ (alarm call)

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 7-9 KHz,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ (call)

♫ (song)

♫ 2020-06-11 13:13:00 Sils (song?)

♫ 2020-04-25 08:20:16 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-05-07 10:43:48 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2021-04-01 14:38:06 Lugano (song?)

♫ 2020-06-10 12:19:11 Sils (song?)

♫ (song)

♫ 2020-04-23 09:00:47 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2020-05-07 12:29:27 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2025-07-24 17:55:00 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2021-02-21 12:48:52 Adelboden (song?)

♫ 2020-07-13 13:54:21 Hirzli (song?)

Eurasian wren / Zaunkönig (Troglodytes troglodytes) See above Great spotted woodpecker / Buntspecht (Dendrocopos major) See above

Middle spotted woodpecker / Mittelspecht (Dendrocoptes medius)

Alternate classification: Leiopicus medius, Picoides medius, Dendrocopos medius

Description

Classification: Genus Dendrocopos (Dendrocopos); Family Woodpeckers (Picidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel
Habitat:

Der Mittelspecht ist ein Habitatspezialist, der bei uns hauptsächlich ehemalige Mittelwälder mit zahlreichen Alteichen besiedelt. Der Bestand ist gefährdet und langfristig wird er sich nur halten können, wenn grossflächige Wälder mit der Eiche als Hauptbaumart bestehen bleiben. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-11 - 06-20

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=20-22 cm, wingspan=33-34 cm, weight=50-80 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song:

Im Gegensatz zu anderen Spechten trommelt der Mittelspecht nur sehr selten. [Link]

Song is a series of short, mewing and nasal "peeaa peeaa peeaa ", where each syllable quickly rises in pitch, but the overall phrase is fairly constant. [Link] Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2024-04-07 13:50:00 (song)

Calls:

Contact and alarm call consists of a series of short "kitt" sounds, where the first syllable is clearer and distinctly in a higher pitch than the rest of the phrase. Seldom drums. [Link]

Stattdessen ist in der Brutzeit das klagende Quäken zu hören, womit der Mittelspecht sein Revier markiert. [Link]
XC624229 Mittelspecht call.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: Call melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: 0-4 KHz,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2024-04-07 13:50:00 (song)

♫ 2024-09-08 08:31:00 Wald Fehraltorf (call)

Black woodpecker / Schwarzspecht (Dryocopus martius)

Description

Classification: Genus Dryocopus (Dryocopus); Family Woodpeckers (Picidae)
General: Seen and later seen, but never photgraphed well.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel
Appearance and identification:

The black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius) is a large woodpecker that lives in mature forests across the northern Palearctic. It is the sole representative of its genus in that region. Its range is expanding. It does not migrate. [Link]
Habitat:

The black woodpecker is mainly found in forested regions, with a preference for extensive, mature woodland, including coniferous, tropical, subtropical and boreal forests. It is very widespread throughout mountainous and lowland forests. It is more likely to occur in marginal woods near human habitations during the non-breeding season. [Link]
Vocalization:

Most sounds diagnostic and very far reaching. Drumming very powerful and long (1.8 - 3 sec.) with slightly falling intensity and accelerated ending. Each beat clearly distinguishable as in Tree-toed Woodpecker, but duration much longer. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-01 - 07-20

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=45-57 cm, wingspan=64-68 cm, weight=290-370 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song:

Beide Geschlechter ähnlich Grünspecht aber klangvoller. „klückklückklück“ 10-20 Laute. Die „klück“ werden etwas von unten heraufgeholt, vor allem gegen den Schluss zu. Häufiger hört man „kliüüh“ von am Stamme sitzenden Vogel. Bei Platzwechsel ruft er „krükrükrü“. [Link]

Song a quick series of "klee" calls resembling Green Woodpecker, but with a purer tone and upward infliction at end of each syllable. [Link] Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ (song)

Calls:

Drumming:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file

Flight call a characteristic resonant trill "krrreekrrreekrrreekrrree". A characteristic short, sharp and plaintive "keeaaa" with descending pitch often uttered when excited. A few slower drawn-out introductory calls before the phrase gets going is diagnostic. [Link] 1: General: A loud unearthly call on a single unwavering note.
Blood curdling call

♫ Source as noted in xeno-canto: Recordist Bodo Sonnenburg 2021-10-11 07:26 Latitude 52.2333 Longitude 13.8365 Location Oder-Spree (near Storkow (Mark)), Brandenburg Country Germany Elevation 40 m (song?)

2: Describe drumming here, cf to other peckers!
XC553023 Black woodpecker drumming.

♫ (drumming)

3: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC549818 Black woodpecker flight call.

♫ (flight call)

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 1-8 KHz,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-10-21 15:13:08 I looked for similar calls at XenoCanto for great spotted woodpeckers, red kites and kestrels, since I heard woodpeckers in those woods and saw the kites and kestrels nearby. I was pleased to find that it's a black woodpecker, which I had heard once or twice before but not been able to identify. Oberreitenbachholzweg, Rumlikon (song?)

♫ 2026-05-24 20:42:00

Source: Zoom H2n Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2025-03-04 09:25:21

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (drumming)

♫ 2025-03-04 09:26:58

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Switzerland (drumming)

Lesser spotted woodpecker / Kleinspecht (Dryobates minor) See above

Little grebe / Zwergtaucher (Tachybaptus ruficollis)

Description

Classification: Genus Tachybaptus (Tachybaptus); Family Grebes (Podicipedidae)
General:

The little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis), also known as dabchick, is a member of the grebe family of water birds. The genus name is from Ancient Greek takhus "fast" and bapto "to sink under". The specific ruficollis is from Latin rufus "red" and Modern Latin -collis, "-necked", itself derived from Latin collum "neck".^[2] [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Vocalization:

Relatively vocal compared to many other grebes. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-11 - 08-18
Migration in: 02-20 - 05-01
Migration out: 06-29 - 11-26

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=25-29 cm, wingspan=40-45 cm, weight=140-193 g
Habitats: River and lake

Vocalisation

Song:

Der Gesang ist ein lautes, hohes Trillern. Männchen und Weibchen tragen ihn häufig im Duett vor. [Link]
Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic, fast, Frequency: 1-5 KHz
Calls:

Call; sometimes a single quite clear high pitched "dydlylyyt". More often combined into longer phrases with harsher quality, oscillating like laughter and travelling up and down in pitch in agitated motion. Reminiscent of female Cuckoo. [Link] No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN
Zwergtaucher in bannriet, SG - ich habe ihn überrascht, er hat diesen panischen Ruf gemacht und ist dann getaucht und verschwunden - herrlich!

♫ 2024-06-20 19:23:00 Bannriet, SG (call)

Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ (song)

Grey-headed woodpecker / Grauspecht (Picus canus)

Also known as: Grey-faced woodpecker, Grey-faced woodpecker, Gray-headed woodpecker

Description

Classification: Genus Picus (Picus); Family Woodpeckers (Picidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel RL 2
Behavior:

Der Grauspecht gehört mit dem Grünspecht zu den «Erdspechten», die ihre Nahrung vorwiegend auf dem Boden suchen. Obwohl er fast so gross ist wie der Grünspecht, ist der heimlicher lebende Grauspecht ungleich schwieriger zu lokalisieren. Am ehesten verrät er sich durch die fallende, etwas melancholisch wirkende Rufreihe. Über seine Lebensweise ist vergleichsweise wenig bekannt. [Link]
Vocalization:

Mostly heard during the breeding season. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-20 - 07-29

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=25-26 cm, wingspan=38-40 cm, weight=120-160 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: Drumming in lieu of song. Fast, constant, somehow less harsh than great and middle spotted woodpeckers.
Song:

Deutlich abfallende Tonreihe. 4-10 Töne. Absinken beginnt gewöhnlich erst mit dem dritten oder vierten Ton und wird etwas langsamer. Klingt etwas klagend (moll). Vor allem gegen den Schluss. Kann nachgepfiffen werden. (beim Grünspecht nicht ) [Link]

Song similar to Green Woodpecker, but general tone is soft and melancholic. Phrases consists of series of 5-8 clear notes falling both in pitch and intensity, and with diagnostic ritardando at the end. Short "kek" uttered if excited. Rarely drums. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic, fast, Frequency: 0-4 KHz Special sounds: drumming
♫ (drumming)

1: In the FOK course, Christina said he sounds like he's running out of gas, which is a great description.
XC623125 grauspecht call.

♫ (call)

2: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC628962 Grauspecht drumming.

♫ (drumming)

Call attributes: Call melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: high (3-9 KHz),
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Eurasian wryneck / Wendehals (Jynx torquilla)

Description

Classification: Genus Jynx (Jynx); Family Woodpeckers (Picidae)
General: Invisible as soon as it lands in a tree - perfect bark camouflage.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL 2
Vocalization:

Normally silent when not breeding. Other sounds: a guttural "gru", and hissing sounds when threatened. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-23 - 10-07
Breeding: 05-01 - 08-18
Migration in: 03-23 - 05-21
Migration out: 07-29 - 10-07

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=16-17 cm, wingspan=25-27 cm, weight=30-45 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Vocalisation

Song: Woodpecker-like series of up to 25 slightly rising calls.
Song:

Reihe von 8-12 Pfeiftönen. Klingt fast etwas heiser., Jeder Ruf etwas absinkend. Die Tonhöhe kann innerhalb der Reihe etwas schwanken, etwas zunehmen und eindringlicher werden. Klangfarbe weich, obertönig. [Link]

Song (both sexes): an insisting, Merlin- or Lesser Spotted Woodpecker-like series of plaintive "kee kee kee kee kee ". First slightly ascending, then descending. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: non-musical, slow, Frequency: 1-6 KHz
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2021-05-10 08:28:04 Magadino (song?)

♫ 2021-05-10 12:00:48 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2021-05-20 14:22:27 (song?)

♫ 2025-04-24 09:24:52

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2022-04-10 15:15:59 (song?)

♫ (song?)

♫ 2025-04-24 09:24:52

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2021-05-10 08:25:23 Gambarogno (song?)

Eurasian green woodpecker / Grünspecht (Picus viridis)

Also known as: European green woodpecker

Description

Classification: Genus Picus (Picus); Family Woodpeckers (Picidae)
General: In the FOK course, Tom mentioned that his nephew said it should be called the Buntspecht, since it has so many colors.
General: Da es v.a. Ameisen frisst, trommelt es nicht viel, so weit ich mich erinnere, daher ist es hier nicht beschrieben. Xenocanto hat auch nichts.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel RL V
Appearance and identification:

Der Grünspecht fällt neben dem laut lachenden Balzruf auch durch den wellenförmigen Flug auf, bei dem er die Flügel zwischen zwei Schlagphasen ganz an den Körper anlegt. Neben dem Wendehals ist er unter den Spechtarten Europas am stärksten auf Ameisen spezialisiert. Er besitzt eine mehr als 10 Zentimeter lange Zunge, die klebrig und an der Spitze mit Widerhaken versehen ist. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-11 - 07-20

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=31-33 cm, wingspan=40-42 cm, weight=150-220 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: Spooky laugh.
Song:

Helles Lachen. Weiche, oft leicht abfallende Tonreihe. Variabel in Lautstärke und Silbenzahl. je nach Stimmung. Wenn abfallend dann vom Anfang der Rufreihe an. Auch dreisilbig „kiäckkiäckkiäck“. [Link]

Song similar to Grey-headed Woodpecker, but not as soft and fluty. Each phrase consist of a series of short "klee", with a laughing quality. Pitch drops slightly throughout the phrase, but not as markedly as in Grey-headed, and tempo is fairly constant (no ritardando). [Link] Song attributes: Melody: non-musical, slow, Frequency: 1-6 KHz
Calls:

Short "kek" calls when excited and in flight. Drumming of 1.5 seconds duration with decelerating tempo, but not often heard. Another call is similar to Black Woodpecker; a series of resonant "klit-klit-klit-klit-klit-klit", but is less clear, has a more determined start and has less obvious rising pitch at the end of each syllable. [Link] Hysterical laughter. 7-8 loud urgent slightly falling notes, reminding me of George of the Jungle's dooky dooky bird for some reason.
XC627157 Grünspecht laughing call.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: high (3-9 KHz), Special sounds: swoop.
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2026-02-28 08:46:20

Source: Zoom H2n Wildert (song?)

♫ 2025-05-08 17:56:00 Wildert (song?)

♫ 2020-11-08 14:35:47 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-05-08 17:37:00 Wildert (song?)

Eurasian three-toed woodpecker / Dreizehenspecht (Picoides tridactylus)

Description

Classification: Genus Picoides (Picoides); Family Woodpeckers (Picidae)
Behavior:

Der Borkenkäferspezialist bevorzugt ungepflegte Fichtenwälder mit reichlich Totholz. [Portrait]
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel, Wintergast RL 2
Behavior:

Die Anwesenheit des heimlichen Dreizehenspechts wird oft übersehen. Er ist wenig scheu und fliegt kaum weg, wenn man sich ihm nähert. [Portrait]
Vocalization:

Drumming powerful and slow, with each beat clearly distinguishable. Most similar to Black Woodpecker but not as long (1 - 1.4 seconds). Accelerated ending (just the last few beats). [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 05-10 - 07-20

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=21-22 cm, wingspan=32-35 cm, weight=57-74 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: Fast drumming, constant volume, longer than great spotted woodpecker's.
Behavior:

Der Borkenkäferspezialist bevorzugt ungepflegte Fichtenwälder mit reichlich Totholz. [Portrait] Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic, fast, Frequency: low (1-3 KHz) Special sounds: drumming
♫ (drumming)

Behavior:

Der Borkenkäferspezialist bevorzugt ungepflegte Fichtenwälder mit reichlich Totholz. [Portrait]
Calls:

Contact call similar to Great Spotted, but deeper and softer. Not very vocal. [Link] Behavior:

Seine unauffälligen Rufe sind nicht laut und tönen ähnlich wie jene des Buntspechts. [Portrait]
XC498796 Dreizehenspecht call.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: drumming Call melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: low (1-3 KHz),
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Eurasian jay / Eichelhäher (Garrulus glandarius) See above Common buzzard / Mäusebussard (Buteo buteo) See above Eurasian blue tit / Blaumeise (Cyanistes caeruleus) See above Common blackbird / Amsel (Turdus merula) See above House sparrow / Haussperling (Passer domesticus) See above

Carrion crow / Rabenkrähe (Corvus corone)

Also known as: Aaskrähe, rabenkraehe

Description

Classification: Genus Crows (Corvus); Family Corvidae (Corvidae)
General:

The carrion crow (Corvus corone) is a passerine bird of the family Corvidae and the genus Corvus which is native to western Europe and the eastern Palearctic. [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Vocalization:

Probably impossible to tell from Hooded Crow by sound with certainty, but tends to sound harder, and more mean. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 03-12 - 06-20

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=45-47 cm, wingspan=93-104 cm, weight=370-650 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Similar species

Song or calls similar to: Jackdaw.

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2024-07-17 14:31:02

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Greater Fehraltorf (song)

1: Graak!
XC1036835 - Carrion Crow - Corvus corone call.

♫ (call)

2: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN_VIA_ZOOM
Aaskrähe at 0, Zilpzalp at 2, Trommeln at 10, Amsel, Zaunkönig at 17, evtl 10, 5-note Taube at 32.

♫ 2024-03-22 06:28:12

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (drumming)

Call attributes: Call melody: non-musical, slow, Frequency: low (1-3 KHz), Special sounds: cawing.
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2026-02-28 08:46:20

Source: Zoom H2n Wildert (song?)

♫ 2020-06-03 09:44:58 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2024-10-31 16:14:52 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2023-02-21 10:46:58 Staldenweiher (song)

♫ 2020-10-22 16:03:56 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2026-02-26 08:21:06

Source: Zoom H2n Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2024-06-16 07:57:48

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Greater Fehraltorf (song)

♫ 2026-03-07 07:54:40

Source: Zoom H2n Gsangweg (song?)

♫ 2023-06-19 07:07:05

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Bolle di Magadino (song?)

♫ 2025-06-08 07:57:00 Stromboli (song?)

♫ 2020-07-01 07:29:27 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2025-04-03 08:57:12

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2023-02-16 11:23:00 Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2025-01-10 14:39:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ (song?)

♫ 2025-04-20 05:45:02

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2026-02-26 08:42:44

Source: Zoom H2n Staldenweiher (song)

♫ 2024-06-04 09:50:08 Merlin suggested additional birds: Buchfink, Gartengrasmücke, Zilpzalp, Teichrohrsänger, Blaumeise, Amsel, Mönchsgrasmücke.

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2024-05-15 05:27:28

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Luppmen (song)

♫ 2023-02-23 17:17:08

Source: Zoom H6/H2n (song)

♫ 2021-02-15 09:11:22 Pfaeffikon (song?)

♫ 2025-03-17 12:19:02

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2023-02-22 18:26:52

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2024-12-18 13:20:00 Wildert Weiher (call)

♫ 2023-02-21 11:24:00 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2026-02-28 08:51:28

Source: Zoom H2n Wildert (song?)

♫ 2020-09-30 15:08:34 Auslikon (song?)

♫ 2026-02-26 08:11:14

Source: Zoom H2n Staldenweiher (song)

Common raven / Kolkrabe (Corvus corax)

Also known as: Northern raven

Description

Classification: Genus Crows (Corvus); Family Corvidae (Corvidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
General: The raven is often mentioned in word puzzles as the largest songbird.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel
Good to know: A flock of ravens may be called an unkindness [Literary names of groups and flocks]
Etymology:

Kolk, die erste Silbe seines seit dem 16. Jahrhundert bezeugten deutschen Namens, ist vermutlich lautmalerischen Ursprungs, ahmt also den Ruf des Vogels nach. [Link]

Jahrhundert bezeugten deutschen Namens, ist vermutlich lautmalerischen Ursprungs, ahmt also den Ruf des Vogels nach. [Link]
Appearance and identification:

It is one of the two largest corvids, alongside the thick-billed raven, and is possibly the heaviest passerine bird [Link]

Ravens are larger, the size of a Red-tailed Hawk [in Switzerland a red kite, similar 'length' but only 2/3 of the huge kite wingspan]. Ravens often travel in pairs, while crows are seen in larger groups. Also, watch the bird’s tail as it flies overhead. The crow’s tail feathers are basically the same length, so when the bird spreads its tail, it opens like a fan. Ravens, however, have longer middle feathers in their tails, so their tail appears wedge-shaped when open. Listen closely to the birds’ calls. Crows give a cawing sound. But ravens produce a lower croaking sound. [How to Tell a Raven From a Crow]
Vocalization:

Quite varied repertoire. Most heard sound a short, coarse, but resonant "korrk. Other sounds may be surprisingly resonant and pure, like a ringing "clong" etc. Shows even more variation when courting. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 02-20 - 06-09

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=64 cm, wingspan=120-150 cm, weight=800-1560 g
Habitats: Mountain

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2025-10-14 15:41:00 Switzerland (song)

Graak!
XC779842 - Northern Raven - Corvus corax corax - call recorded in Sweden.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: Call melody: non-musical, slow, Frequency: low (1-3 KHz), Special sounds: cawing.
Details Wikipedia A-Z Animals Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2024-09-12 16:37:00 Greater Fehraltorf (call)

Red-billed chough / Alpenkrähe (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax)

Description

Classification: Genus Pyrrhocorax (Pyrrhocorax); Family Corvidae (Corvidae)
endangered Etymology:

[6], "Chough" was originally an alternative onomatopoeic name for the jackdaw, Corvus monedula, based on its call. [Link]
Vocalization:

Easily distinguished from the thin, trilling, whistling sounds of Alpine Chough. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-01 - 07-10

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=39-40 cm, wingspan=73-90 cm, weight=260-350 g
Habitats: Mountain

Vocalisation

Calls: Ebird: Gives a variety of calls, including a loud “chaw!”, as well as higher-pitched gull-like mewing calls. [Link]

Call: A rapidly descending "keeaaaw", sometimes resembling a coarse jackdaw. At other times a more mewing sound, with similar coarseness, or a sharper, descending "kieew". [Link] 1: Higher-pitched falling graak.
2: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC417702 - Red-billed Chough - Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax - flight call recorded in Spain.

♫ Spain (flight call)

Call attributes: Call melody: non-musical, slow, Frequency: low (1-3 KHz), Special sounds: cawing.
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Bohemian waxwing / Seidenschwanz (Bombycilla garrulus)

Alternate classification: Lanius garrulus

Description

Classification: Genus Bombycilla (Bombycilla); Family Bombycillidae (Bombycillidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General: Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast, Invasionsvogel
Seasonal Behavior:

Seltener Durchzügler, seltener Wintergast [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Migration in: 02-01 - 02-08
Migration out: 02-01 - 02-10

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=18 cm, wingspan=32-35 cm, weight=50-75 g
Habitats: Settlement

Vocalisation

Song:

Lots of trills. [Link]
Song:

Song more or less a variation on the contact call. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic, fast, Frequency: 5-7 KHz
Calls:

Contact call weak, but distinct and typically alert one to the presence of a flock. A thin, high pitched, ringing "tzrrrrrrr". [Link] No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC763124 - Bohemian Waxwing - Bombycilla garrulus - call recorded in Sweden.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ (song)

Common rosefinch / Karmingimpel (Carpodacus erythrinus)

Alternate classification: Erythrina erythrina

Description

Classification: Genus Carpodacus (Carpodacus); Subfamily Carduelinae (Carduelinae); Family Fringillidae (Fringillidae)
endangered General:

The common rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) or scarlet rosefinch is the most widespread and common rosefinch of Asia and Europe. [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 05-10 - 10-18
Breeding: 05-21 - 07-20
Migration in: 05-10 - 06-09
Migration out: 07-29 - 10-18

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=14-15 cm, wingspan=24-26 cm, weight=19-27 g
Habitats: Wetland

Vocalisation

Song:

Einfacher, flötender Gesang: variations on a slurring hHmML. [Link]
Song:

Song very characteristic. A melodious, pure and short whistle, often rendered as "pleased to meet you". Each note with a smooth gliding change of pitch. Number of syllables may vary. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: stereotype melodic, fast, Frequency: 2-6 KHz
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube
♫ (song)

Common snipe / Bekassine (Gallinago gallinago)

Alternate classification: Capella gallinago

Description

Classification: Genus Gallinago (Gallinago); Family Shorebirds (Scolopacidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
General:

The common snipe (Gallinago gallinago) is a small, stocky wader native to the Old World. [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL 1
Vocalization:

Quite vocal, especially at breeding ground. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Migration in: 01-01 - 05-21
Migration out: 07-20 - 12-31

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=25-27 cm, wingspan=44-47 cm, weight=80-140 g
Habitats: Wetland

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song:

Song an unmistakable bleating, drumming sound produced by vibrating tail feathers in sky-dives. [Link] Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ (song)

Calls:

Almost always give diagnostic hoarse and nasal "kaaat" call when flushed. Another territorial call is a rhythmic, mechanical and sharp "tika-tika-tka", or "ika-ka-ka". [Link]
XC947581 - Common Snipe flight call - Gallinago gallinago.

♫ (flight call)

Call attributes: flight call Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz), Special sounds: quack.
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

White-winged snowfinch / Schneesperling (Montifringilla nivalis)

Alternate classification: Fringilla nivalis

Description

Classification: Genus Montifringilla (Montifringilla); Family Sparrows (Passeridae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel RL R
Appearance and identification: More white and gray than other sparrows, bronw only on back (wings), v. white when flying. almost always 1500m+, eher im Sueden inkl Graubuenden
Vocalization:

Rich repertoire. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 05-10 - 08-09

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=17 cm, wingspan=34-38 cm, weight=35-45 g
Habitats: Mountain

Vocalisation

Song: The XC song I downloaded is a faint chirping. Should follow up on song - most talk about calls.
Song:

Song a staccato, variable phrase, consisting of short burst of sharp chattering in uneven tempo. The timbre is ringing, rich in harmonics and partly rolling. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: 4-6 KHz
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ Switzerland (song)

Common cuckoo / Kuckuck (Cuculus canorus)

Description

Classification: Genus Cuculus (Cuculus); Family Cuckoos (Cuculidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL V
Etymology:

Auch in vielen anderen Sprachen, wie im Französischen (Coucou), Italienischen (cucú), Spanischen (cuco, manchmal cuclillo), Russischen (Kukuschka), Griechisch (koukoula), Englischen (Cuckoo), Polnischen (Kukułka), Ungarischen (kakukk) und Lateinischen (cuculus) wurde der Ruf lautmalerisch in seinen Namen integriert. [Link]

[2][3] The cuckoo family gets its common name and genus name by onomatopoeia for the call of the male common cuckoo. [Link]
Geography:

A common migratory bird across most of Europe and Asia, it regularly strays to the western Alaskan islands in late spring and early summer. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-01 - 10-07
Breeding: 05-01 - 07-20
Migration in: 04-01 - 05-31
Migration out: 07-10 - 10-07

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=32-34 cm, wingspan=55-60 cm, weight=95-140 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: Two-noter
Song:

Männchen: Unverwechselbarer Ruf. Weibchen: im Frühling eine kichernde Rufreihe, [Link]

Song: the well known disyllabic "cuck-coo" with emphasis on first note, and the second note a third lower than the first one. Also a harsh "tchaa tchaa", and a bubbly trill, reminiscent of Little Grebe, uttered by the female. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: 0-1 KHz
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-06-14 12:21:24 Locarno (song?)

♫ 2026-05-24 20:42:00

Source: Zoom H2n Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 16:18:00 Wetzikon (song?)

♫ 2025-05-14 16:53:16

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2021-05-04 08:18:36 Flachsee am Reuss (song?)

♫ (song?)

Black grouse / Birkhuhn (Lyrurus tetrix)

Alternate classification: Tetrao tetrix

Also known as: Eurasian black grouse

Description

Classification: Genus Lyrurus (Lyrurus); Subfamily Grouses (Tetraoninae); Family Turkeys (Phasianidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel RL 2
Personal notes: Rolf hat einen auf dem Amdener Höhenweg Mai 2023 gesehen, würde den gerne sehen!

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 05-21 - 07-10

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Habitats: Mountain

Vocalisation

Song: Song can be a rapid dove-like cooing that goes up, then repeats.
Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: 0-1 KHz
♫ (song)

Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Hooded crow / Nebelkrähe (Corvus cornix)

Alternate classification: Corvus corone cornix

Description

Classification: Genus Crows (Corvus); Family Corvidae (Corvidae)
Classification: Von Linnäus als eigener Genus erfasst, heute Unterart der Aaskrähe (neben Rabenkrähe).
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Personal notes: Ich kenne sie aus dem Tessin, auch in der Ghisla Kunstsammlung.
Vocalization:

Cawing is aggressive and more raucous than in Rook, with more rolling r's. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 03-12 - 06-20

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=45-47 cm, wingspan=93-104 cm, weight=370-650 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song:

Has a large repertoire of seldom heard calls, and even sub-song. [Link] Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2025-06-08 07:33:00 Stromboli (song)

Calls:

Many of these calls are surprisingly resonant and pleasant sounding, and sometimes resembles Raven. Probably impossible to tell from Carrion Crow with certainty by sound alone. [Link]

Cawing is aggressive and more raucous than in Rook, with more rolling r's. [! [Link]
XC762056 - Hooded Crow - Corvus cornix - call recorded in Germany.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: Call melody: non-musical, slow, Frequency: 2-4 KHz, Special sounds: cawing.
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube

Rook / Saatkrähe (Corvus frugilegus)

Description

Classification: Genus Crows (Corvus); Family Corvidae (Corvidae)
General:

The rook (Corvus frugilegus) is a member of the family Corvidae in the passerine order of birds. It is found in the Palearctic, its range extending from Scandinavia and western Europe to eastern Siberia. It is a large, gregarious, black-feathered bird, distinguished from similar species by the whitish featherless area on the face. Rooks nest collectively in the tops of tall trees, often close to farms or villages; the groups of nests are known as rookeries. [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Vocalization:

Makes similar caws as Carrion Crow, but is harsher, softer, flatter with less rolling r's. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 03-12 - 06-09
Migration in: 02-20 - 04-11
Migration out: 09-28 - 11-15

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=44-46 cm, wingspan=81-99 cm, weight=280-340 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Vocalisation

Song: Gurgling and rattling, but mostly calls
Song:

Also gives a varied song of soft gurgling and rattling sounds, interwoven with calls at breeding ground. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: non-musical, fast, Frequency: 0-3 KHz Special sounds: weird
No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC1024253 - Rook - Corvus frugilegus call.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube
♫ 2026-02-26 08:45:04

Source: Zoom H2n Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2026-05-17 14:17:34

Source: Zoom H2n Pfäffikersee (song?)

♫ 2025-03-10 13:32:00 Switzerland (call)

♫ (song)

♫ 2025-02-08 11:38:00 Jona (song?)

Common starling / Star (Sturnus vulgaris) See above

Stock dove / Hohltaube (Columba oenas)

Also known as: Stock pigeon

Description

Classification: Genus Columba (Columba); Family Pigeons (Columbidae)
General: Ich habe diese zum ersten Mal bewusst gesehen auf Mettmenalp.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 03-23 - 09-17
Migration in: 02-10 - 05-01
Migration out: 08-09 - 10-27

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=32-34 cm, wingspan=63-69 cm, weight=250-350 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: Song:

Song a two-syllable, cooing. Much louder and more accentuated first syllable than in Feral Pigeon. First a short ascending "oooh", immediately followed by a short descending "oohh". Tone quite pure, mostly lacking the rolling quality of Feral Pigeon. [Link]

Jede Note ein gleitender hlm, klingt wir hu-u-u [Link]
Song:

„Huuh-hup“ . Das „huuh“ fast zweisilbig, erste Silbe höher, das „hup“ noch höher. Fast wie „Hooh ruck“ [Link]

Nur noch sehr selten zu hören! [Link] No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC747105 - Stock Dove - Columba oenas - call, sounds almost like a growling dog.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ (song)

Eurasian collared dove / Türkentaube (Streptopelia decaocto)

Also known as: Eurasian collared-dove

Description

Classification: Genus Streptopelia (Streptopelia); Family Pigeons (Columbidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America (introduced), Africa, Asia (introduced).
General:

The Eurasian collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto) is a dove species native to Europe and Asia; it was introduced to Japan, North America and islands in the Caribbean. Because of its vast global range and increasing population trend, it has been listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List since 2014.^[1] [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 01-01 - 10-27

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=31-33 cm, wingspan=47-55 cm, weight=170-240 g
Habitats: Settlement

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song:

Gu-guh-gu, klingt wie „ Gross-mue-ti“ Dazu auch „chräi“ oder „chwii“ [Link]

Song a characteristic, rhythmic cooing, consisting of three syllables with emphasis on the second. The third lower pitched than the rest. Can be rendered as "su-do-ku" (or "deca-oc-to", latin name derived from song). [Link] Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2023-03-14 08:21:46

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Madeira (song)

Details Wikipedia A-Z Animals Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2024-05-13 05:51:36

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-05-21 07:45:50 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2024-11-01 07:38:36 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

Turtle dove / Turteltaube (Streptopelia turtur)

Also known as: European turtle-dove, European turtle dove

Description

Classification: Genus Streptopelia (Streptopelia); Family Pigeons (Columbidae)
General:

Die Turteltaube (Streptopelia turtur) ist eine Vogelart aus der Familie der Tauben. Das Verbreitungsgebiet umfasst weite Teile der westlichen und zentralen Paläarktis und reicht vom nördlichen Afrika, der iberischen Halbinsel und Großbritannien nach Osten über den Nahen und Mittleren Osten bis Nordwestchina und in die Mongolei. Im Mittelmeerraum ist die Turteltaube besonders häufig. Nach einer im Jahr 2007 veröffentlichten Studie der EU ist ihr Bestand jedoch in den letzten 25 Jahren um 62 Prozent zurückgegangen.^[1] Der Bestandsrückgang wird auf veränderte landwirtschaftliche Anbaumethoden und den Rückgang der Erdraucharten zurückgeführt, die bei der Ernährung der Turteltauben eine große Rolle spielen. Zu den für den Bestandsrückgang verantwortlichen Faktoren gehört aber auch der Abschuss der Tauben insbesondere im Mittelmeerraum während der Zugzeiten. [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL 3

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-11 - 10-07
Breeding: 05-10 - 07-10
Migration in: 04-11 - 06-20
Migration out: 08-09 - 10-07

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=26-28 cm, wingspan=47-53 cm, weight=100-180 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: Trilling coo.
Song:

Song: a deep, rolling, and slightly ascending cooing; "trrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr trrr-trrrr" with variations in rhythm. Sometimes birds sticks to a phrase, but phrases varies between individuals. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: one note, slow, Frequency: low (1-3 KHz)
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ (song?)

♫ 2023-06-19 08:22:04

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Bolle di Magadino (song)

Black kite / Schwarzmilan (Milvus migrans) See above Red kite / Rotmilan (Milvus milvus) See above Eurasian magpie / Elster (Pica pica) See above Great tit / Kohlmeise (Parus major) See above European nuthatch / Kleiber (Sitta europaea) See above European robin / Rotkehlchen (Erithacus rubecula) See above Common chaffinch / Buchfink (Fringilla coelebs) See above

Eurasian bullfinch / Gimpel (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)

Also known as: Dompfaff

Description

Classification: Genus Pyrrhula (Pyrrhula); Subfamily Carduelinae (Carduelinae); Family Fringillidae (Fringillidae)
General:

The Eurasian bullfinch, common bullfinch or bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) is a small passerine bird in the finch family, Fringillidae. In Anglophone Europe it is known simply as the bullfinch, as it is the original bird to bear the name bullfinch. [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-20 - 08-18
Migration in: 02-10 - 04-01
Migration out: 10-07 - 11-26

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=14-16 cm, wingspan=22-29 cm, weight=27-38 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: 3-note long M, pause, HL (somewhat falling)...Gim! Gim-peeel! Sounds a bit like a pirol.
Song:

Song a quiet, modest mix of contact call and various chirping sounds, with peculiar harmonics. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: stereotype melodic, slow, Frequency: 2-8 KHz
♫ (song)

Calls:

Contact call a soft, full-bodied, descending, pure whistle; "peeuu". [Link] laconic 1 note call w slight dip? Song NABU 1 parakeet like puppy-dog whining, NABU 2 whistles, 2-syllable peek-a-boo, ...
XC214867 - Eurasian Bullfinch - Pyrrhula pyrrhula - contact call, recorded in Germany.

♫ (contact call)

Call attributes: contact call Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 2-3 KHz,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2021-02-21 12:51:52 Adelboden (song?)

♫ 2025-08-31 11:41:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2021-08-02 16:17:41 Ammler Höhenweg (song?)

♫ 2021-04-02 15:47:13 Carona (song?)

Common chiffchaff / Zilpzalp (Phylloscopus collybita) See above White wagtail / Bachstelze (Motacilla alba) See above

Western yellow wagtail / Schafstelze (Motacilla flava)

Also known as: Yellow wagtail, Wiesenschafstelze

Description

Classification: Genus Motacilla (Motacilla); Family Motacillidae (Motacillidae)
General: Yellow, gray head, white mask.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-23 - 10-27
Breeding: 05-10 - 07-29
Migration in: 03-23 - 05-31
Migration out: 08-09 - 10-27

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=17 cm, wingspan=23-27 cm, weight=14-21 g
Habitats: Wetland

Similar species

Looks similar to: Tawny pipit.

Vocalisation

Song: Just a few notes, call seems to be common but song rare. Very short chirp of ~ 1 sec, long pause of 3 secs. At Wauwilermoos it seemed to be 'Twee tweetwee (higher note:) twee!'
Song:

Song primitive and less striking. Beware differences in calls and songs between different subspecies. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: stereotype melodic, slow, Frequency: 3-9 KHz
♫ (song)

Calls:

Contact call characteristic and widely used; a sharp, drawn out "pseeeoo" with an accented ending falling in pitch. A variable phrase with two or three notes resembling the contact call in timbre. [Link] General: Single note repeated
Song:

sperling ähnliches lh lh lh. Dachte die wären melodisch?? Nein. BL chirpy ml ml [Link]
XC653784 - Western Yellow Wagtail - Motacilla flava flavissima - call.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 3-9 KHz, Special sounds: swoop.
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube
♫ 2026-05-25 06:51:00 La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2024-09-14 09:11:00 La Sauge (call)

♫ 2022-06-22 15:21:04 Wauwilermoos (song?)

Italian sparrow / Italiensperling (Passer italiae)

Alternate classification: Passer hispaniolensis italiae

Description

Classification: Genus Passer (Passer); Family Sparrows (Passeridae)
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.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ Italy (song)

Eurasian tree sparrow / Feldsperling (Passer montanus) See above

Blue rock-thrush / Blaumerle (Monticola solitarius)

Alternate classification: Monticola solitaria

Also known as: Blue rock thrush

Description

Classification: Genus Monticola (Monticola); Family Thrushes (Turdidae)
General:

The blue rock thrush (Monticola solitarius) is a species of chat. This thrush-like Old World flycatcher was formerly placed in the family Turdidae. It breeds in southern Europe, northwest Africa, and from Central Asia to northern China and Malaysia. The blue rock thrush is the official national bird of Malta and was shown on the Lm 1 coins that were part of the country's former currency. [more]
Resident (ssp madoci) in far south and winter visitor
Vocalization:

Often two notes in sequence, the second one higher ("pjuu-eee"), and sometimes followed by series of dry "check" sounds. [Link]

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=20 cm, wingspan=33-37 cm, weight=57-64 g
Habitats: Mountain

Vocalisation

Song: Pretty short up-and-down song heard in Mallorca
Song:

The song is a beautiful, melodious fluting which can be very difficult to distinguish from M. saxatilis. It generally has a more melancholic feel, with more tremulous fluting than the latter, with less lingering in the higher register. The structure is variable and simple, but sometimes more elaborate in song-flight or when including mimicry. Both sexes sing, but male most actively. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: stereotype melodic, fast, Frequency: 2-4 KHz Special sounds: mimicry
♫ (song)

Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2022-04-10 11:30:07 (song?)

♫ 2022-04-10 11:29:26 (song?)

♫ 2022-04-10 11:31:44 (song?)

♫ 2022-04-07 12:12:36 (song?)

♫ 2022-04-10 11:13:19 (song?)

Grey wagtail / Gebirgsstelze (Motacilla cinerea)

Also known as: Gray wagtail, Bergstelze, Gebirgstelze

Description

Classification: Genus Motacilla (Motacilla); Family Motacillidae (Motacillidae)
General: Yellow breast and butt end, white belly, light grey head and back, white eye stripe and stripe above black beard, dark wings with 3 white V's, long tail.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 03-23 - 08-29
Migration in: 02-20 - 04-01
Migration out: 08-18 - 10-27

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=18-19 cm, wingspan=25-27 cm, weight=14-22 g
Habitats: Wetland

Vocalisation

Song:

BirdID says Song simple but variable. I hear trills up to 2 seconds long and chirps. Another description says a series of calls, not very melodic. I noted zwitx3, sometimes hhhhhll. [Link]
Song:

Song simple but variable. Sometimes with more elaborate song-flight like White Wagtail. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: stereotype melodic, fast, Frequency: high (3-9 KHz) Special sounds: trill
♫ (song)

♫ (song)

Calls:

Contact call short, metallic and with a clipped ending. Often disyllabic, "tzeet-tzeet", with each syllable more separated than in White Wagtail, and timbre more "dirty". Often starts with the contact call, followed by short melodic phrases. [Link] 1: Birdweather hat ein-Noter aufgenommen.
XC854585 - Grey Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea - 2-note call.

♫ (call)

2: Ich habe zwei-noter lh lhhh notiert, wahrscheinlich von Birdweather?

3: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN
Gebirgsstelze bei 5 minuten durch geflogen, evtl Flugruf.

♫ 2024-09-09 08:24:00 Greater Fehraltorf (flight call)

Gebirgsstelze bei letzen 30 Sekunden durch geflogen, evtl Flugruf.

♫ 2024-09-09 08:24:00 Greater Fehraltorf (flight call)

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

Video

Gebirgstelze in der Luppmen.

Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2024-08-08 07:28:48 (call)

♫ 2024-10-31 16:37:38 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2025-04-13 08:07:48

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2026-02-26 09:25:00 Staldenweiher (song?)

Common wood pigeon / Ringeltaube (Columba palumbus) See above Dunnock / Heckenbraunelle (Prunella modularis) See above

Bank swallow / Uferschwalbe (Riparia riparia)

Also known as: Sand martin

Description

Classification: Genus Riparia (Riparia); Family Swallows (Hirundinidae)
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
♫ (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.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Common house martin / Mehlschwalbe (Delichon urbicum)

Alternate classification: Delichon urbica

Also known as: Northern House Martin, Common house-martin, Common house-martin, Western house-martin, Northern house martin

Description

Classification: Genus Delichon (Delichon); Family Swallows (Hirundinidae)
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
♫ 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.

♫ Spain (flight call)

Birdnet 864 flight call - Common house martin.

♫ 2020-08-10 14:45:28 Luppmen (flight call)

Call attributes: Call melody: simple rhythmic, fast, Frequency: 4-7 KHz,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2021-05-10 08:00:54 Gambarogno (song?)

♫ 2025-09-02 19:47:00 Pfaeffikon (song?)

♫ 2021-08-01 15:57:37 Fehraltorf (song?)

Barn swallow / Rauchschwalbe (Hirundo rustica) See above

Eurasian hobby / Baumfalke (Falco subbuteo)

Description

Classification: Genus Falcons (Falco); Family Falconidae (Falconidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL 3
Etymology: Nabu: 2024 das erste Mal gehört nah beim Rosinli, aus der Ferne gesehen am Klingnauerstausee. [Link]
Vocalization:

Varied, but not very vocal. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-01 - 10-27
Breeding: 05-01 - 08-29
Migration in: 04-01 - 06-20
Migration out: 08-09 - 10-27

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=30-36 cm, wingspan=82-92 cm, weight=131-340 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2024-08-14 13:57:00 Greater Fehraltorf (song)

Calls:

Calls when courting and at breeding ground. Most common sound a high-pitched "tew-tew-tew". Similar to Wryneck, but less pleading. Also a sneezing "ktcho". [Link] General: About 20 single notes.
XC669704 - Eurasian Hobby - Falco subbuteo - call, about twenty peeps.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: Call melody: non-musical, slow, Frequency: low (1-3 KHz),
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-05-07 13:14:03 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ (call)

Ruff / Kampfläufer (Calidris pugnax)

Alternate classification: Philomachus pugnax, Philomachus pugnax

Also known as: Ruff_(bird)

Description

Classification: Genus Calidris (Calidris); Family Shorebirds (Scolopacidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL 1
Etymology: Nabu: Der Name leitet sich vom Balzverhalten der Männchen ab: In Balzarenen tragen sie „Turniere“ aus, um die Weibchen zu beeindrucken, dabei herrscht eine komplizierte Rollenverteilung. [Link]
Vocalization:

Generally silent. Short, muted, nasal, mono or disyllabic grunts sometimes heard. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 02-20 - 11-06
Migration in: 05-21 - 05-31
Migration out: 05-21 - 05-28

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=26-30 cm, wingspan=54-58 cm, weight=75-230 g
Habitats: Wetland
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Common kestrel / Turmfalke (Falco tinnunculus) See above Eurasian sparrowhawk / Sperber (Accipiter nisus) See above

Short-toed snake eagle / Schlangenadler (Circaetus gallicus)

Also known as: Short-toed snake-eagle

Description

Classification: Genus Circaetus (Circaetus); Subfamily True hawks (Accipitrinae); Family Accipitridae (Accipitridae)
General:

The short-toed snake eagle (Circaetus gallicus), also known as the short-toed eagle, is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, buzzards and harriers. The genus name Circaetus is from the Ancient Greek kirkos, a type of hawk, and aetos, "eagle". The specific gallicus means "of Gallia".^[2] [more]
Rare passage migrant and winter visitor
Vocalization:

Quite vocal, especially at breeding ground. A wailing "keeeeaaaaaa" with marked register breaks, or a soft "pjuu-pjuu-pjuu". Male purer and more resonant than female. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-23 - 10-07
Migration in: 05-21 - 06-09
Migration out: 05-21 - 05-28

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=62-67 cm, wingspan=185-195 cm, weight=1200-2200 g
Habitats: Agricultural
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Northern goshawk / Habicht (Accipiter gentilis) See above White stork / Weissstorch (Ciconia ciconia) See above Grey heron / Graureiher (Ardea cinerea) See above

Little egret / Seidenreiher (Egretta garzetta)

Description

Classification: Genus Plumed egrets (Egretta); Family Herons (Ardeidae)

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

Wood warbler / Waldlaubsänger (Phylloscopus sibilatrix)

Description

Classification: Genus Phylloscopus (Phylloscopus); Family Phylloscopidae (Phylloscopidae)
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
♫ (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 Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube

Spotted flycatcher / Grauschnäpper (Muscicapa striata)

Alternate classification: Motacilla striata

Description

Classification: Genus Muscicapa (Muscicapa); Family Old world flycatchers (Muscicapidae)
General: Perches on limbs in forest to swoop for insects and return to perch, specifically heard in woods near Staldenweiher.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel
Appearance and identification: Heard in woods near Staldenweiher, seen at Kaltbrunnerriet. Has streaks on crown and breast, rather than spots. Medium brown on head and back, light colored belly. 'Pincette-shaped beak'.
Seasonal Behavior:

Auf Englisch heissen sie 'Flycatcher' und fressen tatsächlich vor allen Insekte,aber Wikipedia sagt 'ab Mitte Juli auch verschiedene Früchte' - was bestätigt das das Foto von 9. September 2024 ein Grauschnäpper sein kann. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-20 - 10-07
Breeding: 05-21 - 08-09
Migration in: 04-20 - 05-31
Migration out: 07-29 - 10-07

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=14 cm, wingspan=23-25 cm, weight=14-20 g
Habitats: Settlement

Vocalisation

Song: High (6-8 KHz?) short sound repeated every half to 5 seconds.
Song: Gesang 'unauffällig' - zirp x 2-3, mal steigender tWIT
Song:

Song a primitive, slow series of various buzzing and very high pitched sounds. No recurring phrases. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: 6-8 KHz
Calls:

The discreet calls often goes unnoticed. Most calls high pitched with a buzzing, "electric" timbre. Alarm call a sharp, drawn "tzreeeee-check", with the second syllable abruptly clipping the sound. [Link] General: To me something between a one-note and an extremely simple melody, namely med-med chk-hi-med-med, with a very irregular speed, not at all like a metronome.
Call:

Most calls high pitched with a buzzing, "electric" timbre. [Link]
Sounds to me like any other 1-note call so far

♫ (song?)

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 4-7 KHz, Special sounds: irregularly rhythmic.
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2020-06-22 16:58:36 Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2021-07-03 07:51:22 Fehraltorf (call)

♫ 2021-07-20 15:23:55 Weisslingen (song?)

♫ 2021-05-20 14:02:40 (song?)

♫ 2020-06-22 16:57:16 Staldenweiher (song?)

♫ 2021-05-20 14:00:25 (song?)

♫ 2021-07-20 15:26:55 Weisslingen (song?)

♫ 2020-06-03 10:22:55 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2021-08-14 09:54:33 Fehraltorf (song?)

♫ 2020-08-05 15:35:25 Hungerseeli (song?)

♫ 2021-05-10 08:18:37 Gambarogno (song?)

White-throated dipper / Wasseramsel (Cinclus cinclus) See above

Icterine warbler / Gelbspötter (Hippolais icterina)

Alternate classification: Hippolais hippolais

Description

Classification: Genus Hippolais (Hippolais); Subfamily Acrocephalinae (Acrocephalinae); Family Old world warblers (Sylviidae)
endangered General: 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 Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ (song)

♫ (song)

European pied flycatcher / Trauerschnäpper (Ficedula hypoleuca)

Description

Classification: Genus Ficedula (Ficedula); Family Old world flycatchers (Muscicapidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL 3
Etymology: Vögel mit viel schwarzem Gefieder werden in der Vogelnamensgebung gerne mit dem Wortzusatz „Trauer“ versehen. Denn durch dieses „Trauerkleid“ unterscheiden sie sich von verwandten Arten, die nicht schwarz gefärbt sind. [lbv.de]
Appearance and identification:

Kleiner SW Vogel, Kopf schwarz mit weissem Punkt an der Stirn, Bauch weiss. Gesang gar nicht traurig! [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-01 - 10-18
Breeding: 05-01 - 07-20
Migration in: 04-01 - 05-31
Migration out: 07-20 - 10-18

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=13 cm, wingspan=21-24 cm, weight=10-15 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: Nice short melody, often with 2-note parts. Blackbird-like but little variation (though differs in dialect).
Song:

Song a pleasant, tuneful, simple but varied phrase. [Link] Song attributes: Mnemnoic: Schwarzer Kopf aber nicht traurig Melody: stereotype melodic, fast, Frequency: 3-10 KHz
♫ (song)

Calls:

Alarm call a sharp, energetic "wit", often in combination with a short "tic"; "whit-tic". Typically starts with disyllabic notes being repeated 3-5 times, diminishing in pitch and intensity like an echo of the first two syllables. Occasionally throws in a quick diagnostic ascending scale excercise. Clear notes and well defined pauses between phrases. [Link]
XC918321 - European Pied Flycatcher one-note call - Ficedula hypoleuca.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz), Special sounds: whoop.
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2021-05-04 09:33:46 Flachsee am Reuss (song?)

♫ 2021-05-04 09:33:46 Flachsee am Reuss (song?)

♫ 2024-09-14 08:01:00 La Sauge (song?)

♫ 2025-05-08 17:56:00 Wildert (song?)

♫ 2020-04-15 10:51:08 Luppmen (song?)

♫ 2021-05-10 08:19:32 Gambarogno (song?)

Melodious warbler / Orpheusspötter (Hippolais polyglotta)

Description

Classification: Genus Hippolais (Hippolais); Subfamily Acrocephalinae (Acrocephalinae); Family Old world warblers (Sylviidae)
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
♫ (song)

Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ Croatia (song)

♫ 2022-06-04 13:42:05 Uznach (song?)

Bluethroat / Blaukehlchen (Luscinia svecica)

Alternate classification: Erithacus svecius

Description

Classification: Genus Luscinia (Luscinia); Family Thrushes (Turdidae)
General: Looking for it in Kaltbrunnenriet - didn't find it in June 2022.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel seit 2016 nicht mehr auf der Vorwarnliste
Appearance and identification: Sparrow-brown head, then strong blue, orange-brown, blue,dark brown, orange-brown, ending in a white belly!

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-12 - 10-07
Breeding: 05-01 - 07-29
Migration in: 03-12 - 05-01
Migration out: 08-09 - 10-07

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=14 cm, wingspan=20-22 cm, weight=15-25 g
Habitats: Wetland

Vocalisation

Song: Often one little phrase or even a single note repeated, a bit like a nightingale? Occasional figaro?
Song:

Song: Structure slightly similar to Nightingale, but tone much thinner and less full-bodied. A good impersonator and various imitations are interwoven among metallic, ringing sounds to form a complex, intriguing song. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: improvised melodic, fast, Frequency: 3-8 KHz Special sounds: trill
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ (song)

♫ Spain (song)

Common grasshopper warbler / Feldschwirl (Locustella naevia)

Also known as: Common grasshopper-warbler, Grasshopper warbler

Description

Classification: Genus Locustella (Locustella); Family Locustellidae (Locustellidae)
General:

The common grasshopper warbler (Locustella naevia) is a species of Old World warbler in the grass warbler genus Locustella. It breeds across much of temperate Europe and the western Palearctic. It is migratory, wintering in north and west Africa. [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL 3

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-11 - 10-07
Breeding: 05-01 - 07-29
Migration in: 04-11 - 06-09
Migration out: 07-29 - 10-07

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=12-13 cm, wingspan=15-19 cm, weight=11-16 g
Habitats: Wetland

Similar species

Song or calls similar to: Savi's warbler.

Vocalisation

Song: Buzzing like an insect or machinery. BirdLife Schweiz says like a grasshopper (which is after all the English name).
Song:

Sehr lang anhaltendes Schwirren. Die einzelnen Schlage noch zu erkennen. Der Klang erinnert etwas an Heuschreckenzirpen (alter Name Heuschreckenrohrsänger, langer Name, lange Strophe) und klingt etwas blechern., d.h. Mit Oberton. (fast wie ein Wecker bei dem man den Finger etwas auf die Glocke hält) [Link]

Song insect-like and high-pitched. A monotonous stream of even clicks similar to a running fishing line. Maintained for seemingly endless periods, and often hard to locate. Song most similar to Savi's Warbler but is slower (each click more separated), and higher pitched with a metallic, ringing quality. Short sequences of song also functions as contact call. Also a Robin-like "tick". [Link] Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic, fast, Frequency: 5-8 KHz
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ (song)

Nightjar / Ziegenmelker (Caprimulgus europaeus)

Also known as: Eurasian nightjar, European nightjar

Description

Classification: Genus Caprimulgus (Caprimulgus); Subfamily Caprimulginae (Caprimulginae); Family Caprimulgidae (Caprimulgidae)
General:

Der Ziegenmelker (Caprimulgus europaeus), auch Europäischer Ziegenmelker und neuerdings Nachtschwalbe^[1] genannt, ist neben dem Rothals-Ziegenmelker (Caprimulgus ruficollis) der einzige in Europa vorkommende Vertreter der Vogelfamilie der Nachtschwalben (Caprimulgidae). [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL 3

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-11 - 10-07
Breeding: 05-10 - 07-29
Migration in: 04-11 - 06-09
Migration out: 08-18 - 10-07

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=26-28 cm, wingspan=57-64 cm, weight=65-100 g
Habitats: Forest

Similar species

Song or calls similar to: Savi's warbler.

Vocalisation

Song: Buzzing like machinery or a (BirdID says) a cricket. Changes pitch at times.
Song:

Song unique among birds, but quite similar to Mole cricket. A mechanical, continuous slur, like the sound of a distant motorbike. As opposed to the Mole Cricket, it often "shifts gear" by changing pitch to a note approximately a fourth below the drone. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic, fast, Frequency: 2-4 KHz
♫ (song)

Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Ring ouzel / Ringdrossel (Turdus torquatus)

Description

Classification: Genus Turdus (Turdus); Family Thrushes (Turdidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-12 - 11-06
Breeding: 04-20 - 07-20
Migration in: 03-12 - 05-10
Migration out: 08-29 - 11-06

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=23-24 cm, wingspan=38-42 cm, weight=92-138 g
Habitats: Mountain

Similar species

Song or calls similar to: Great spotted woodpecker.

Vocalisation

Song: BirdID says Song a primitive, plaintive series of short phrases, often with only 1-2 syllables (I heard 2-3 in Amden, sometimes chirpy, sometimes less musical).
Song:

Habe mit dem Buntspecht verwechselt - Ringdrossel singt 2-3 Noten - hilft das? [Link]

Song a primitive, plaintive series of short phrases. Often with only one or two syllables. Interspersed with eerie, higher pitched sounds, reminiscent of Song Thrush. [Link] Song attributes: Mnemnoic: 3 Noten wie Ring-dross-el Melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: 1-5 KHz
♫ (song)

Calls:

Alarm call a series of "chok-chok". Thicker and more resonant than Redwing. [Link] No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC942931 - Ring Ouzel - Turdus torquatus - clicky call.

♫ (call)

Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Common stonechat / Schwarzkehlchen (Saxicola torquatus) See above

Thrush nightingale / Sprosser (Luscinia luscinia)

Description

Classification: Genus Luscinia (Luscinia); Family Thrushes (Turdidae)
General:

The thrush nightingale (Luscinia luscinia), also known as the sprosser, is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, Muscicapidae.^[2] It, and similar small European species, are often called chats. [more]
Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=16 cm, wingspan=24-26 cm, weight=24-30 g
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Eurasian oystercatcher / Austernfischer (Haematopus ostralegus)

Description

Classification: Genus Haematopus (Haematopus); Family Oystercatchers (Haematopodidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Etymology: Bbc2: A flock of oyster catchers is a parcel [A nugget from Winterwatch 2022, episode 1, from BBC 2]
Vocalization:

Very vocal. [Link]

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=40-45 cm, wingspan=80-86 cm, weight=430-650 g
Habitats: Wetland
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Black swan / Trauerschwan (Cygnus atratus)

Description

Classification: Genus Swans (Cygnus); Tribe Swans (Cygnini); Subfamily Anserinae (Anserinae); Family Waterfowl (Anatidae)
General:

Der Trauerschwan (Cygnus atratus) oder Schwarzschwan ist eine Vogelart aus der Gattung der Schwäne (Cygnus) und der Familie der Entenvögel (Anatidae). Er ist der einzige fast völlig schwarze Schwan und hat außerdem den längsten Hals aller Schwäne. [more]
Deutschland: etabliertes Neozoon, Brutvogel Bruten gehen auf entflogene Tiere zurück, Austausch mit der etablierten Population in den NL
Details Wikipedia eBird Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Pectoral sandpiper / Graubrust-Strandläufer (Calidris melanotos)

Description

Classification: Genus Calidris (Calidris); Family Shorebirds (Scolopacidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Asia.
General: Deutschland: seltener Zugvogel
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Common ringed plover / Sandregenpfeifer (Charadrius hiaticula)

Description

Classification: Genus Charadrius (Charadrius); Family Charadriidae (Charadriidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL 1
Vocalization:

Usually heard before seen. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-12 - 10-27
Migration in: 10-07 - 10-27
Migration out: 10-07 - 10-15

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=18-20 cm, wingspan=48-57 cm, weight=55-73 g
Habitats: Wetland
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Cetti's warbler / Seidensänger (Cettia cetti)

Description

Classification: Genus Cettia (Cettia); Subfamily Acrocephalinae (Acrocephalinae); Family Old world warblers (Sylviidae)
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 (song)

Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2022-04-12 14:07:40 (song)

♫ 2025-04-24 09:24:52

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-04-24 09:27:00

Source: Zoom H2n Bolle di Magadino (song?)

♫ 2026-03-24 10:17:20

Source: Zoom H2n Bolle di Magadino (song?)

♫ 2025-04-24 10:12:00

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-05-22 13:17:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2022-04-12 14:20:43 (song?)

♫ 2025-04-24 09:27:00

Source: Zoom H2n Bolle di Magadino (song?)

Great black-backed gull / Mantelmöwe (Larus marinus)

Description

Classification: Genus Larus (Larus); Subfamily Larinae (Larinae); Family Gulls (Laridae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL R
Vocalization:

Can be identified from the low pitch alone. Clearly deeper than Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gull. [Link]

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=64-78 cm, wingspan=150-165 cm, weight=1033-2272 g
Habitats: River and lake
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Eurasian crag-martin / Felsenschwalbe (Ptyonoprogne rupestris)

Also known as: Eurasian crag martin

Description

Classification: Genus Ptyonoprogne (Ptyonoprogne); Family Swallows (Hirundinidae)
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 Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube

Temminck's stint / Temminckstrandläufer (Calidris temminckii)

Description

Classification: Genus Calidris (Calidris); Family Shorebirds (Scolopacidae)
General: Deutschland: Zugvogel

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=13-15 cm, wingspan=34-37 cm, weight=17-30 g
Habitats: Wetland
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Black-tailed godwit / Uferschnepfe (Limosa limosa)

Alternate classification: Scolopax limosa

Description

Quite vocal at breeding ground, but mostly silent elsewhere. Varied repertoire of mewing and sharp sounds, some resembling Bar-tailed, some almost lapwing-like. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 02-20 - 09-28
Migration in: 05-01 - 05-31
Migration out: 05-01 - 05-08

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=40-44 cm, wingspan=70-82 cm, weight=250-390 g
Habitats: Wetland
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Arctic tern / Kü̈stenseeschwalbe (Sterna paradisaea)

Also known as: Küstenseeschwalbe

Description

Similar to Common Tern but higher pitched. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Seldom seen here

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=33-35 cm, wingspan=75-85 cm, weight=95-120 g
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Great skua / Skua (Stercorarius skua)

Alternate classification: Stercorarius skua skua

Description

Classification: Genus Stercorarius (Stercorarius); Family Stercorariidae (Stercorariidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
General: Deutschland: seltener Zugvogel, seltener Wintergast
Vocalization:

Heard mostly at breeding ground. Short, and dry "kek", when agitated. Also a nasal, slightly mewing "kew". [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-01 - 10-27
Migration in: 10-18 - 10-27
Migration out: 10-18 - 10-25

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=53-58 cm, wingspan=132-140 cm, weight=1210-1630 g
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Sardinian warbler / Samtkopfgrasmücke (Curruca melanocephala)

Alternate classification: Curruca cantillans, Sylvia melanocephala, Sylvia cantillans

Also known as: Eastern subalpine warbler, Bartgrasmücke, Samtkopf-Grasmuecke

Description

Classification: Genus Curruca (Curruca); Subfamily Sylviinae (Sylviinae); Family Old world warblers (Sylviidae)
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 Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2025-06-08 07:48:00 Stromboli (song?)

♫ 2025-06-09 07:15:00 Switzerland (song?)

♫ 2025-06-08 07:33:00 Stromboli (song)

♫ 2025-06-08 08:07:00 Switzerland (call)

Little bunting / Zwergammer (Emberiza pusilla)

Description

Classification: Genus Buntings (Emberiza); Tribe Emberizini (Emberizini); Subfamily Emberizinae (Emberizinae); Family Fringillidae (Fringillidae)
Winter visitor

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-01 - 11-26
Migration in: 04-01 - 05-01
Migration out: 10-07 - 11-26

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=13-14 cm, wingspan=20-22 cm, weight=13-19 g
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Western subalpine warbler / Westliche Weissbart-Grasmücke (Curruca iberiae)

Description

General:

The western subalpine warbler (Curruca iberiae) is a small typical warbler which breeds in the southernmost areas of Europe and north-western Africa. [more]

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2025-06-07 11:09:00 Switzerland (song)

Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube Sorry, file too big!

Horned grebe / Ohrentaucher (Podiceps auritus)

Also known as: Slavonian grebe

Description

Varied. Vibrating, wailing, dry and cackling sequences. A mewing, falling and far-reaching "kiaa" and various rattling sounds. [Link]

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=31-38 cm, wingspan=46-55 cm, weight=364-449 g
Habitats: River and lake
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Peregrine falcon / Wanderfalke (Falco peregrinus)

Also known as: Peregrine

Description

A harsh, drawn out "kiaaaa" with emphasised endings repeated in series. Much slower than Merlin, but higher pitched than Gyrfalcon. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 02-20 - 07-10
Migration in: 02-20 - 05-01
Migration out: 08-09 - 11-06

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=36-48 cm, wingspan=95-110 cm, weight=582-1300 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ (call)

Calls:

Also shorter, coarse warning-calls. [Link] No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.

Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia A-Z Animals Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Jack snipe / Zwergschnepfe (Lymnocryptes minimus)

Description

Classification: Genus Lymnocryptes (Lymnocryptes); Family Shorebirds (Scolopacidae)
General: Deutschland: ehemaliger Brutvogel, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Vocalization:

May occasionally give a harsh, nasal and rolling "reearrr" when flushed, but is usually silent. "Galloping" interspersed with cyclic, whistling, hissing sounds. Hard to locate when displaying. Seems both close and distant at the same time. [Link]

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=17-19 cm, wingspan=38-42 cm, weight=35-73 g
Habitats: Wetland
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube

Sabine's gull / Schwalbenmöwe (Xema sabini)

Alternate classification: Xema sabinii

Description

Classification: Genus Xema (Xema); Family Gulls (Laridae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: seltener Zugvogel

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 08-18 - 10-27
Migration in: 08-18 - 10-27

More details at Vogelwarte.ch
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Great northern loon / Eistaucher (Gavia immer)

Alternate classification: Urinator imber

Also known as: Common loon, Great northern diver

Description

Classification: Genus Gavia (Gavia); Family Loons (Gaviidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General: Deutschland: seltener Wintergast

Seasonal behavior

Seldom seen here

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=69-91 cm, wingspan=69-91 cm, weight=3600-4480 g
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Montagu's harrier / Wiesenweihe (Circus pygargus)

Description

Classification: Genus Harriers (Circus); Subfamily True hawks (Accipitrinae); Family Accipitridae (Accipitridae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL 2
Vocalization:

Quite similar to Hen Harrier. Seldom heard, even at breeding ground. Sharp "ke-ke-ke-ke", and various high-pitched whistling sounds. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-01 - 10-07
Breeding: 05-10 - 08-09
Migration in: 08-01 - 08-09
Migration out: 08-09 - 09-17

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=43-47 cm, wingspan=105-120 cm, weight=227-445 g
Habitats: Agricultural
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Lesser black-backed gull / Heringsmöwe (Larus fuscus)

Description

Classification: Genus Larus (Larus); Subfamily Larinae (Larinae); Family Gulls (Laridae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Vocalization:

Very similar to Herring Gull, but tone more nasal. [Link]

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=52-64 cm, wingspan=117-134 cm, weight=620-1000 g
Habitats: River and lake
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Greater spotted eagle / Schelladler (Clanga clanga)

Alternate classification: Aquila clanga

Description

Classification: Genus Clanga (Clanga); Family Accipitridae (Accipitridae)
General: Uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor
Vocalization:

Vocal at breeding ground, and when courting. Short, barking, high-pitched whistles, not unlike a small dog. Slightly lower pitched than C. pomarina and with a fuller tone, but very similar. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Migration in: 03-01 - 04-01
Migration out: 10-27 - 12-16

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=65-72 cm, wingspan=155-182 cm, weight=1600-3000 g
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Greater scaup / Bergente (Aythya marila)

Alternate classification: Anas marila

Description

Classification: Genus Aythya (Aythya); Tribe Diving ducks (Aythyini); Subfamily Dabbling ducks plus extinct (Anatinae); Family Waterfowl (Anatidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Asia.
General: Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast RL R

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Migration in: 01-21 - 01-29
Migration out: 01-21 - 02-20

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=42-51 cm, wingspan=72-84 cm, weight=700-1300 g
Habitats: River and lake

Lapland longspur / Spornammer (Calcarius lapponicus)

Description

Classification: Genus Calcarius (Calcarius); Tribe Emberizini (Emberizini); Subfamily Emberizinae (Emberizinae); Family Fringillidae (Fringillidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Asia.
General: Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-23 - 11-06
Migration in: 03-23 - 05-01
Migration out: 09-28 - 11-06

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=15-16 cm, wingspan=25-28 cm, weight=20-28 g
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Spotted redshank / Dunkler Wasserläufer (Tringa erythropus)

Description

Classification: Genus Tringa (Tringa); Family Shorebirds (Scolopacidae)
General: Deutschland: Zugvogel

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=29-31 cm, wingspan=61-67 cm, weight=125-210 g
Habitats: Wetland
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Common shelduck / Brandgans (Tadorna tadorna)

Description

Classification: Genus Tadorna (Tadorna); Subfamily Tadorninae (Tadorninae); Subfamily Dabbling ducks plus extinct (Anatinae); Family Waterfowl (Anatidae)
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 Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Western capercaillie / Auerhuhn (Tetrao urogallus)

Description

Classification: Genus Tetrao (Tetrao); Subfamily Grouses (Tetraoninae); Family Turkeys (Phasianidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel RL 1
Vocalization:

Display-sounds from male unmistakable. Then closing with grinding and hissing sounds. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 05-01 - 07-20

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=60-87 cm, wingspan=87-125 cm, weight=1500-5000 g
Habitats: Mountain
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube

Ruddy shelduck / Rostgans (Tadorna ferruginea)

Description

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

Wood duck / Brautente (Aix sponsa)

Alternate classification: Anas sponsa

Description

Classification: Genus Aix (Aix); Subfamily Dabbling ducks plus extinct (Anatinae); Family Waterfowl (Anatidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General:

The wood duck or Carolina duck (Aix sponsa) is a species of perching duck found in North America. It is one of the most colorful North American waterfowl.^[2]^[3] [more]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-11 - 06-29

More details at Vogelwarte.ch
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Rock dove / Felsentaube (Columba livia)

Alternate classification: Columba livia domestica

Also known as: Rock pigeon, Common pigeon, Rock pigeon, Rock pigeon, Rock pigeon, Strassentaube

Description

Classification: Genus Columba (Columba); Family Pigeons (Columbidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel
Vocalization:

Not loud. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 01-01 - 12-31

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=31-34 cm, wingspan=63-70 cm, weight=230-370 g
Habitats: Settlement

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song:

Song a two-syllable, but continuous cooing. First a rolling ascending "orrrrrr" immediately followed by a short descending "oohh". Wings produce a quite audible whistling sound. [Link] Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ (call)

No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.

Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Western cattle egret / Kuhreiher (Ardea ibis)

Alternate classification: Bubulcus ibis, Egretta ibis

Also known as: Western cattle-egret, Cattle egret, Cattle egret, Cattle egret, Cattle egret

Description

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ (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.

♫ Spain (flight call)

Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube

Common scoter / Trauerente (Melanitta nigra)

Alternate classification: Oidemia nigra

Description

Classification: Genus Melanitta (Melanitta); Subfamily Dabbling ducks plus extinct (Anatinae); Family Waterfowl (Anatidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
General:

Anas nigra Linnaeus, 1758 [more]
Vocalization:

More vocal than other Scoters. Short, whistling sounds, sometimes reminiscent of a male teal, but a little bit deeper in pitch. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Migration in: 03-15 - 03-23
Migration out: 03-01 - 03-23

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=44-54 cm, wingspan=79-90 cm, weight=650-1300 g
Habitats: River and lake
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Little stint / Zwergstrandläufer (Calidris minuta)

Description

Classification: Genus Calidris (Calidris); Family Shorebirds (Scolopacidae)
General: Deutschland: Zugvogel

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-20 - 10-27
Migration in: 10-07 - 10-15
Migration out: 05-01 - 06-09

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=12-14 cm, wingspan=34-37 cm, weight=18-30 g
Habitats: Wetland
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Bearded vulture / Bartgeier (Gypaetus barbatus)

Also known as: Lämmergeier

Description

Classification: Genus Gypaetus (Gypaetus); Subfamily True hawks (Accipitrinae); Family Accipitridae (Accipitridae)
General:

The bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), also known as the lammergeier and ossifrage, is a bird of prey and the only member of the genus Gypaetus. This bird is also identified as Huma bird or Homa bird in Iran and north west Asia. Traditionally considered an Old World vulture, it actually forms a minor lineage of Accipitridae together with the Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), its closest living relative. It is not much more closely related to the Old World vultures proper than to, for example, hawks, and differs from the former by its feathered neck. Although dissimilar, the Egyptian and bearded vulture each have a lozenge-shaped tail—unusual among birds of prey. [more]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 01-01 - 08-18

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=100-115 cm, wingspan=266-282 cm, weight=5000-7000 g
Habitats: Agricultural
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Rock pipit / Strandpieper (Anthus petrosus)

Alternate classification: Alauda petrosa

Also known as: Eurasian rock pipit

Description

Classification: Genus Anthus (Anthus); Family Motacillidae (Motacillidae)
Deutschland: ausnahmsweise Brutvogel, Wintergast
Vocalization:

All sounds very similar to Water Pipit. [Link]

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=16-17 cm, wingspan=22-28 cm, weight=20-27 g
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Black-bellied plover / Kiebitzregenpfeifer (Pluvialis squatarola)

Also known as: Grey plover

Description

Classification: Genus Pluvialis (Pluvialis); Family Charadriidae (Charadriidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: Zugvogel

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-11 - 11-26
Migration in: 11-06 - 11-14
Migration out: 05-01 - 05-31

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=27-30 cm, wingspan=71-83 cm, weight=190-280 g
Habitats: Wetland
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Tundra bean goose / Tundrasaatgans (Anser serrirostris)

Alternate classification: Anser segetum serrirostris

Also known as: Tundra bean-goose

Description

Classification: Genus Geese (Anser); Tribe Anserini (Anserini); Subfamily Anserinae (Anserinae); Family Waterfowl (Anatidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General:

The tundra bean goose (Anser serrirostris) is a goose that breeds in northern Siberia. This and the taiga bean goose are recognised as separate species by the American Ornithological Society and International Ornithologists' Union, but are considered a single species by other authorities (collectively called bean goose). It is migratory and winters further south in Asia. The taiga and tundra bean goose diverged about 2.5 million years ago and established secondary contact ca. 60,000 years ago, resulting in extensive gene flow.^[1] [more]
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Long-tailed duck / Eisente (Clangula hyemalis)

Description

Classification: Genus Clangula (Clangula); Subfamily Dabbling ducks plus extinct (Anatinae); Family Waterfowl (Anatidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Asia.
General: Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast
Vocalization:

Very vocal and distinct. Male: a pleasant resonant melodic "ahh-aaooee" in a yodeling, breaking triad. Starting with an accented first note (ahh), then gliding from first through second and third note (-aaoooeee). Far carrying. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Migration in: 03-15 - 03-23
Migration out: 03-01 - 03-23

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=40-47 cm, wingspan=40-47 cm, weight=550-900 g
Habitats: River and lake
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Marsh sandpiper / Teichwasserläufer (Tringa stagnatilis)

Description

Classification: Genus Tringa (Tringa); Family Shorebirds (Scolopacidae)
General: Deutschland: seltener Zugvogel

Seasonal behavior

Seldom seen here

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=22-24 cm, wingspan=55-59 cm, weight=50-85 g
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Red-throated pipit / Rotkehlpieper (Anthus cervinus)

Alternate classification: Motacilla cervina

Description

Classification: Genus Anthus (Anthus); Family Motacillidae (Motacillidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: Zugvogel

Seasonal behavior

Seldom seen here
Presence: 04-11 - 10-27
Migration in: 10-18 - 10-25
Migration out: 04-20 - 05-10

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=15 cm, wingspan=25-27 cm, weight=17-24 g
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Squacco heron / Rallenreiher (Ardeola ralloides)

Alternate classification: Ardea ralloides

Description

Classification: Genus Ardeola (Ardeola); Family Herons (Ardeidae)
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
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Green sandpiper / Waldwasserläufer (Tringa ochropus)

Description

Classification: Genus Tringa (Tringa); Family Shorebirds (Scolopacidae)
Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Vocalization:

Totally different from Wood Sandpiper. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Migration in: 06-20 - 09-07
Migration out: 03-23 - 05-01

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=21-24 cm, wingspan=57-61 cm, weight=60-90 g
Habitats: Wetland
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Eurasian woodcock / Waldschnepfe (Scolopax rusticola)

Description

Classification: Genus Scolopax (Scolopax); Family Shorebirds (Scolopacidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL V
Vocalization:

Sometimes give a snipe-like hoarse "raaat" when flushed. Male display flight at night distinctive. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 03-23 - 08-09
Migration in: 02-20 - 05-01
Migration out: 09-07 - 12-16

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=33-35 cm, wingspan=56-60 cm, weight=131-420 g
Habitats: Forest
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Osprey / Fischadler (Pandion haliaetus)

Also known as: Western osprey

Description

Classification: Genus Pandion (Pandion); Family Pandionidae (Pandionidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL 3

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=55-58 cm, wingspan=145-170 cm, weight=1120-2050 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2023-10-12 15:55:00 New England (song)

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

Red knot / Knutt (Calidris canutus)

Description

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=23-25 cm, wingspan=57-61 cm, weight=110-160 g
Habitats: Wetland
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Garganey / Knäkente (Anas querquedula)

Alternate classification: Querquedula querquedula, Spatula querquedula, Spatula querquedula, Spatula querquedula

Description

Classification: Genus Ducks (Anas); Tribe Dabbling ducks (Anatini); Subfamily Dabbling ducks plus extinct (Anatinae); Family Waterfowl (Anatidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL 2

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-01 - 09-25

Other Details

Habitats: River and lake
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Rough-legged hawk / Raufussbussard (Buteo lagopus)

Alternate classification: Falco lagopus

Also known as: Rough-legged buzzard

Description

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Migration in: 11-15 - 12-31
Migration out: 02-20 - 04-11

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=50-60 cm, wingspan=120-150 cm, weight=700-1600 g
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Grey partridge / Rebhuhn (Perdix perdix)

Also known as: Gray partridge

Description

Classification: Genus Perdix (Perdix); Subfamily Perdicinae (Perdicinae); Family Turkeys (Phasianidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel RL 2
Vocalization:

Also various clucking sounds. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 05-01 - 07-29

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=29-31 cm, wingspan=45-48 cm, weight=340-450 g
Habitats: Agricultural
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Brant / Ringelgans (Branta bernicla)

Alternate classification: Anas bernicla

Also known as: Brant goose, Brent goose

Description

Classification: Genus Branta (Branta); Subfamily Anserinae (Anserinae); Family Waterfowl (Anatidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General: Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast
Vocalization:

A bubbling, trembling, ascending, three syllable "ahrahrrhit", quite different from other geese. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Migration in: 11-26 - 12-31
Migration out: 03-12 - 04-20

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=56-61 cm, wingspan=110-120 cm, weight=1300-1600 g
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Ruddy turnstone / Steinwälzer (Arenaria interpres)

Alternate classification: Tringa interpres

Also known as: Turnstone

Description

Classification: Genus Turnstones (Arenaria); Family Shorebirds (Scolopacidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL 2

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-11 - 10-18
Migration in: 05-01 - 06-20
Migration out: 05-01 - 06-08

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=22-24 cm, wingspan=50-57 cm, weight=85-150 g
Habitats: Wetland
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Sacred ibis / Heiliger Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus)

Alternate classification: Threskiornis aethiopica

Also known as: African sacred ibis, African sacred ibis

Description

Classification: Genus Threskiornis (Threskiornis); Family Threskiornithidae (Threskiornithidae)

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

Spotted crake / Tüpfelsumpfhuhn (Porzana porzana)

Description

Classification: Genus Porzana (Porzana); Family Rails (Rallidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL 1

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-23 - 10-27
Breeding: 05-10 - 08-09
Migration in: 07-22 - 07-29
Migration out: 07-29 - 09-28

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=22-24 cm, wingspan=37-42 cm, weight=70-110 g
Habitats: Wetland
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Long-tailed jaeger / Falkenraubmöwe (Stercorarius longicaudus)

Also known as: Long-tailed skua, Longtailed skua

Description

Classification: Genus Stercorarius (Stercorarius); Family Stercorariidae (Stercorariidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: seltener Zugvogel

Seasonal behavior

Seldom seen here

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=48-53 cm, wingspan=105-117 cm, weight=240-350 g
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube

Collared pratincole / Rotflügel-Brachschwalbe (Glareola pratincola)

Description

Classification: Genus Glareola (Glareola); Family Glareolidae (Glareolidae)

Vocalization:

Quite vocal. [Link]

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=25 cm, wingspan=60-65 cm, weight=70-95 g
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Common redshank / Rotschenkel (Tringa totanus)

Description

Classification: Genus Tringa (Tringa); Family Shorebirds (Scolopacidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL V
Vocalization:

Generally a noisy and loud bird, especially at breeding ground. Most heard is a characteristic "tew-hoo", or "tew-hoo-hoo" with first syllable accentuated. No gap between the syllables like Greenshank, and usually with a marked falling pitch. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-01 - 10-07
Migration in: 03-23 - 05-21
Migration out: 03-15 - 03-23

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=27-29 cm, wingspan=59-66 cm, weight=85-150 g
Habitats: Wetland
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2025-05-14 17:15:00 Switzerland (song?)

Rock partridge / Steinhuhn (Alectoris graeca)

Alternate classification: Perdix graeca

Description

Classification: Genus Alectoris (Alectoris); Subfamily Perdicinae (Perdicinae); Family Turkeys (Phasianidae)
General:

The rock partridge (Alectoris graeca) is a gamebird in the pheasant family, Phasianidae, of the order Galliformes (gallinaceous birds). It is native to southern Europe, and is closely related and very similar to its eastern equivalent, the chukar partridge, A. chukar. [more]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 05-21 - 08-09

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Habitats: Mountain
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Little gull / Zwergmöwe (Hydrocoloeus minutus)

Alternate classification: Larus minutus

Description

Classification: Genus Hydrocoloeus (Hydrocoloeus); Family Gulls (Laridae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: ausnahmsweise Brutvogel, Zugvogel RL R

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=25-27 cm, wingspan=75-80 cm, weight=85-150 g
Habitats: River and lake
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Little crake / Kleinsumpfhuhn (Zapornia parva)

Alternate classification: Porzana parva

Also known as: Kleines Sumpfhuhn, Kleinralle, Kleines Sumpfhuhn

Description

Classification: Genus Porzana (Porzana); Family Rails (Rallidae)
General: Deutschland: Brutvogel, seltener Zugvogel RL 1

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=18-20 cm, wingspan=34-39 cm, weight=40-60 g
Habitats: Wetland
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Horned lark / Ohrenlerche (Eremophila alpestris)

Alternate classification: Chionophila alpestris

Description

Classification: Genus Eremophila (Eremophila); Family Larks (Alaudidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa.
General: Deutschland: Wintergast

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 09-28 - 11-26
Migration in: 09-28 - 11-26

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=14-17 cm, wingspan=30-35 cm, weight=26-46 g
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Red-throated loon / Sterntaucher (Gavia stellata)

Also known as: Red-throated diver

Description

In flight; nasal, dry, gooselike series of rhythmic cackling "ko-ko-ko". Most vocal when courting and breeding. A meowing drawn-out sound starting with a register break, then falling in pitch. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Migration in: 02-01 - 02-10
Migration out: 02-02 - 02-10

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=53-69 cm, wingspan=106-116 cm, weight=1170-1900 g
Habitats: River and lake
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Gull-billed tern / Lachseeschwalbe (Gelochelidon nilotica)

Alternate classification: Sterna nilotica

Description

Classification: Genus Gelochelidon (Gelochelidon); Family Gulls (Laridae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, seltener Zugvogel RL 1
Vocalization:

Quite vocal and easily distinguished from most congeners. Mewing and sharp in tone, but not rattling or raucous like most terns. Other variants are series of "ke-ke-ke-ke", or the mewing sounds. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Seldom seen here

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=35-38 cm, wingspan=100-115 cm, weight=190-260 g
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Glossy ibis / Brauner Sichler (Plegadis falcinellus)

Also known as: Sichler

Description

Classification: Genus Plegadis (Plegadis); Family Threskiornithidae (Threskiornithidae)
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
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Red-footed falcon / Rotfussfalke (Falco vespertinus)

Description

Classification: Genus Falcons (Falco); Family Falconidae (Falconidae)
General: Deutschland: ausnahmsweise Brutvogel, seltener Zugvogel

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-20 - 10-07
Migration in: 06-09 - 06-17
Migration out: 08-18 - 10-07

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=29-31 cm, wingspan=66-78 cm, weight=130-197 g
Habitats: Agricultural
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Western marsh harrier / Rohrweihe (Circus aeruginosus)

Also known as: Marsh harrier, Eurasian marsh-harrier, Eurasian marsh-harrier, Western marsh-harrier

Description

Classification: Genus Harriers (Circus); Subfamily True hawks (Accipitrinae); Family Accipitridae (Accipitridae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Migration in: 03-12 - 06-09
Migration out: 07-29 - 10-27

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=48-56 cm, wingspan=115-130 cm, weight=405-800 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ (call)

Calls:

Call: A sharp "kwii-uuu" of about a seconds length, rapidly ascending in pitch, and ending on a falling tone. [Link] No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.

Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
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Red-necked phalarope / Odinshühnchen (Phalaropus lobatus)

Description

Classification: Genus Phalaropus (Phalaropus); Family Shorebirds (Scolopacidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: Zugvogel
Vocalization:

Short and sharp "teck", sometimes repeated to form trilling series. Also a mewing, nasal "veeoo". [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 05-21 - 10-27
Migration in: 10-07 - 10-27
Migration out: 10-07 - 10-15

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=18-19 cm, wingspan=32-41 cm, weight=27-48 g
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Little bustard / Zwergtrappe (Tetrax tetrax)

Description

Classification: Genus Tetrax (Tetrax); Family Bustards (Otididae)
General:

The little bustard (Tetrax tetrax) is a large bird in the bustard family, the only member of the genus Tetrax. The genus name is from Ancient Greek and refers to a gamebird mentioned by Aristophanes and others.^[2] [more]
Vocalization:

Wings in male produces a whistling sound when flying and in display flight. Flushed birds give a hoarse grunt "ugh". Female sometimes utters e mewing "miee". [Link]

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=40-45 cm, wingspan=105-115 cm, weight=700-950 g
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Eurasian eagle-owl / Uhu (Bubo bubo)

Alternate classification: Strix bubo

Also known as: Eurasian eagle owl

Description

Classification: Genus Eagle owls (Bubo); Family Strigidae (Strigidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 03-23 - 07-10

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=60-75 cm, wingspan=160-188 cm, weight=1800-4200 g
Habitats: Agricultural
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Eurasian dotterel / Mornellregenpfeifer (Charadrius morinellus)

Alternate classification: Eudromias morinellus

Description

Classification: Genus Charadrius (Charadrius); Family Charadriidae (Charadriidae)
General: Deutschland: ausnahmsweise Brutvogel, Zugvogel RL 0

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-11 - 09-28
Migration in: 09-17 - 09-28
Migration out: 09-17 - 09-25

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=20-22 cm, wingspan=57-64 cm, weight=90-130 g
Habitats: Wetland
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Eurasian pygmy-owl / Sperlingskauz (Glaucidium passerinum)

Also known as: Eurasian pygmy owl

Description

Classification: Genus Glaucidium (Glaucidium); Family Strigidae (Strigidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-11 - 07-20

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=16-17 cm, wingspan=34-36 cm, weight=47-80 g
Habitats: Forest
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Kentish plover / Seeregenpfeifer (Charadrius alexandrinus)

Description

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-01 - 10-27
Migration in: 05-01 - 06-08
Migration out: 06-29 - 10-27

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=15-17 cm, wingspan=42-45 cm, weight=39-56 g
Habitats: Wetland
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube

Boreal owl / Raufusskauz (Aegolius funereus)

Alternate classification: Strix funerea

Description

Classification: Genus Saw-whet owls (Aegolius); Family Strigidae (Strigidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 03-12 - 07-10

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=24-26 cm, wingspan=54-62 cm, weight=100-190 g
Habitats: Forest
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Eurasian spoonbill / Löffler (Platalea leucorodia)

Description

Classification: Genus Platalea (Platalea); Family Threskiornithidae (Threskiornithidae)
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 Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Northern harrier / Kornweihe (Circus cyaneus)

Also known as: Hen harrier

Description

Classification: Genus Harriers (Circus); Subfamily True hawks (Accipitrinae); Family Accipitridae (Accipitridae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL 1
Vocalization:

Mostly heard at breeding ground. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Migration in: 05-01 - 05-08
Migration out: 03-23 - 05-01

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=44-52 cm, wingspan=100-120 cm, weight=300-600 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ (call)

Calls:

Calls with quite soft series of "ke-ke-ke-ke". Also a wailing, squealing whistle, with emphasized first syllable. [Link] No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.

Call attributes: song Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Pallid swift / Fahlsegler (Apus pallidus)

Alternate classification: Cypselus pallidus

Description

Classification: Genus Apus (Apus); Subfamily Apodinae (Apodinae); Family Swifts (Apodidae)
General:

The pallid swift (Apus pallidus) is a small bird, superficially similar to a barn swallow or house martin. It is, however, completely unrelated to those passerine species, since the swifts are in the order Apodiformes. The resemblances between the groups are due to convergent evolution reflecting similar life styles. [more]
Vocalization:

Similar to Common Swift, but usually very helpful for ID. Almost di-syllabic, with marked accent on second syllable which rapidly drops in pitch, "srrrree-aah". [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-23 - 11-15
Breeding: 05-01 - 11-06
Migration in: 03-23 - 05-21
Migration out: 09-07 - 11-15

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=16-17 cm, wingspan=42-46 cm, weight=41 g
Habitats: Settlement

Similar species

Song or calls similar to: Common kestrel.

Vocalisation

Calls:

Common swift has a more even call, with accents on first part, without the sudden pitch-drop. [Link] No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC897963 - Pallid Swift - Apus pallidus - flight call in Portugal.

♫ (flight call)

Call attributes: flight call Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Wood sandpiper / Bruchwasserläufer (Tringa glareola)

Description

Classification: Genus Tringa (Tringa); Family Shorebirds (Scolopacidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: ehemaliger Brutvogel, Zugvogel RL 1
Vocalization:

Totally different from Green Sandpiper. [Link]

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=19-21 cm, wingspan=56-57 cm, weight=50-80 g
Habitats: Wetland

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2021-08-19 08:26:04 Uznach (song)

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

Long-eared owl / Waldohreule (Asio otus)

Alternate classification: Strix otus

Description

Classification: Genus Asio (Asio); Family Strigidae (Strigidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Vocalization:

Other sounds include; a nasal "eeeeeaaa" reminiscent of Collared Dove, nasal mewing and bill clicking. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 03-12 - 07-20

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=35-37 cm, wingspan=90-100 cm, weight=220-370 g
Habitats: Agricultural
Details Wikipedia A-Z Animals Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Red phalarope / Thorshühnchen (Phalaropus fulicarius)

Alternate classification: Phalaropus fulicaria

Also known as: Grey phalarope

Description

Seasonal behavior

Seldom seen here

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=20-22 cm, wingspan=40-44 cm, weight=40-75 g
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Golden eagle / Steinadler (Aquila chrysaetos)

Alternate classification: Falco chrysaetos

Description

Classification: Genus Aquila (Aquila); Subfamily True hawks (Accipitrinae); Family Accipitridae (Accipitridae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel RL 2
Vocalization:

Not very vocal. A short, clear, yelping "kew". Sometimes in series in mellow tempo. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 03-23 - 08-18

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=75-88 cm, wingspan=204-220 cm, weight=2840-6665 g
Habitats: Agricultural
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube

Purple heron / Purpurreiher (Ardea purpurea)

Description

Classification: Genus Great herons (Ardea); Family Herons (Ardeidae)
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.

♫ Thailand (flight call)

Call attributes: flight call Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Black stork / Schwarzstorch (Ciconia nigra)

Description

Classification: Genus Ciconia (Ciconia); Family Storks (Ciconiidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL 3
Vocalization:

Thin, disyllabic "ahhh-li" heard at nest and when courting. One syllable sounds like gasping intake of air, the other is a thin, piping sound. A bit like a cheap, manual, air-mattress pump. Bill-clattering used by juveniles in alarm. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-12 - 10-27
Migration in: 03-12 - 06-09
Migration out: 07-20 - 10-27

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=95-100 cm, wingspan=145-155 cm, weight=3000 g
Habitats: Wetland
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Parasitic jaeger / Schmarotzerraubmöwe (Stercorarius parasiticus)

Also known as: Arctic skua

Description

Classification: Genus Stercorarius (Stercorarius); Family Stercorariidae (Stercorariidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: Zugvogel
Vocalization:

Mostly heard at breeding ground. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Seldom seen here

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=41-46 cm, wingspan=110-125 cm, weight=330-570 g
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube

Common pheasant / Fasan (Phasianus colchicus)

Also known as: Ring-necked pheasant, Jagdfasan

Description

Classification: Genus Phasianus (Phasianus); Subfamily Phasianinae (Phasianinae); Family Turkeys (Phasianidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Australia.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel; etabliertes Neozoon wurde im Mittelalter zur Jagd eingeführt
Vocalization:

Diverse repertoire of harsh cackling sounds. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=53-89 cm, wingspan=70-90 cm, weight=750-1700 g
Habitats: Agricultural
Details Wikipedia eBird Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Common quail / Wachtel (Coturnix coturnix)

Description

Classification: Genus Coturnix (Coturnix); Subfamily Perdicinae (Perdicinae); Family Turkeys (Phasianidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL V
Vocalization:

Other sounds: A nasal disyllabic mewing "mau-au", and a wader-like rolling "wreee". [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-20 - 10-07
Breeding: 05-10 - 08-18
Migration in: 04-20 - 07-10
Migration out: 07-29 - 10-07

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=16-18 cm, wingspan=32-35 cm, weight=75-135 g
Habitats: Agricultural
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Egyptian vulture / Schmutzgeier (Neophron percnopterus)

Description

Classification: Genus Neophron (Neophron); Subfamily True hawks (Accipitrinae); Family Accipitridae (Accipitridae)
General:

The Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), also called the white scavenger vulture or pharaoh's chicken, is a small Old World vulture and the only member of the genus Neophron. It is widely distributed from the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa to India. The contrasting underwing pattern and wedge-shaped tail make it distinctive in flight as it soars in thermals during the warmer parts of the day. Egyptian vultures feed mainly on carrion but are opportunistic and will prey on small mammals, birds, and reptiles. They also feed on the eggs of other birds, breaking larger ones by tossing a large pebble onto them. [more]
Vocalization:

Almost never heard. May emit different grunting sounds and a slightly mallard-like "ga ga ga ga ga ga ga". [Link]

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=60-70 cm, wingspan=155-180 cm, weight=1600-2200 g
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Caspian gull / Steppenmöwe (Larus cachinnans)

Alternate classification: Larus argentatus cachinnans

Description

Classification: Genus Larus (Larus); Subfamily Larinae (Larinae); Family Gulls (Laridae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL R

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Migration in: 04-01 - 05-21
Migration out: 04-01 - 04-08

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Habitats: River and lake
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube

European golden-plover / Goldregenpfeifer (Pluvialis apricaria)

Also known as: European golden plover, Eurasian golden plover

Description

Classification: Genus Pluvialis (Pluvialis); Family Charadriidae (Charadriidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL 1

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 02-20 - 12-16
Migration in: 11-26 - 12-03
Migration out: 03-01 - 04-01

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=26-29 cm, wingspan=67-76 cm, weight=160-280 g
Habitats: Wetland
Details Wikipedia eBird Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Western black-eared wheatear / Mittelmeer-Steinschmätzer (Oenanthe hispanica)

Also known as: Black-eared wheatear

Description

Classification: Genus Wheatears (Oenanthe); Family Old world flycatchers (Muscicapidae)
General:

Motacilla hispanica Linnaeus, 1758 [more]
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube

Black-winged stilt / Stelzenläufer (Himantopus himantopus)

Description

Classification: Genus Himantopus (Himantopus); Family Recurvirostridae (Recurvirostridae)
Deutschland: ausnahmsweise Brutvogel, seltener Zugvogel
Vocalization:

Most vocal at breeding ground. Various short,sharp "kyp" may resemble both Avocet, Coot and Spur-winged Lapwing (Vanellus spinosus). While a tern-like "kee-arr" is more distinct. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-11 - 08-18
Migration in: 05-21 - 05-28
Migration out: 07-10 - 08-18

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=35-40 cm, wingspan=0 cm, weight=150-210 g
Habitats: Wetland

Vocalisation

Calls:

Note that immature birds have a different contact call closely resembling Wood Sandpiper, but do not utter it in series. [Link] No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC863470 - Black-winged Stilt - Himantopus himantopus - flight call, a squeaky yapping - Camargue, France.

♫ Camargue (flight call)

Call attributes: flight call Frequency: ,
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Black-legged kittiwake / Dreizehenmöwe (Rissa tridactyla)

Description

Classification: Genus Rissa (Rissa); Family Gulls (Laridae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL R
Vocalization:

Highly vocal at breeding ground. A mewing "kitti-wake", with the pitch rising on the second drawn out syllable, and then falling. Generally silent elsewhere, except when squabbling over food. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Seldom seen here
Year-round bird
Migration in: 03-01 - 03-23
Migration out: 03-15 - 03-23

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=38-40 cm, wingspan=95-105 cm, weight=310-500 g
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube

Eurasian scops owl / Zwergohreule (Otus scops)

Also known as: Eurasian scops-owl

Description

Classification: Genus Otus (Otus); Family Strigidae (Strigidae)
General:

The Eurasian scops owl (Otus scops), also known as the European scops owl or just scops owl, is a small owl in the typical owl family Strigidae. Its breeding range extends from southern Europe eastwards to southern Siberia and the western Himalayas. It is migratory, wintering in Africa south of the Sahara. [more]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-01 - 10-07
Breeding: 05-21 - 07-29
Migration in: 04-01 - 06-20
Migration out: 08-09 - 10-07

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=19-20 cm, wingspan=53-63 cm, weight=60-120 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song:

Song: a slightly descending, short "klooit". The tone is resonant, clear and pure, unlike Little Owl. [Link] Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2024-05-28 03:57:00 Merlin suggested additional birds: Mittelmeermöwe, Zwergohreule, Misteldrossel, Amsel. Levanto (song)

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

Red-rumped swallow / Rötelschwalbe (Cecropis daurica)

Alternate classification: Hirundo daurica

Description

Classification: Genus Cecropis (Cecropis); Family Swallows (Hirundinidae)

Vocalization:

Less vocal than Barn Swallow. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Seldom seen here
Presence: 04-11 - 06-09
Migration in: 05-21 - 05-28
Migration out: 05-21 - 06-09

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=16-17 cm, wingspan=32-34 cm, weight=19-28 g
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

White-winged tern / Weissflügelseeschwalbe (Chlidonias leucopterus)

Alternate classification: Chliodonias leucopterus

Description

Classification: Genus Chlidonias (Chlidonias); Family Gulls (Laridae)
General: Deutschland: ausnahmsweise Brutvogel, seltener Zugvogel RL 0
Vocalization:

Mostly silent away from breeding ground. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-20 - 10-07
Migration in: 09-07 - 09-14
Migration out: 05-01 - 05-31

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=20-23 cm, wingspan=63-67 cm, weight=50-75 g
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Hazel grouse / Haselhuhn (Tetrastes bonasia)

Alternate classification: Tetrao bonasia

Description

Classification: Genus Tetrastes (Tetrastes); Subfamily Grouses (Tetraoninae); Family Turkeys (Phasianidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel RL 2

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-11 - 07-20

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=35-37 cm, wingspan=48-54 cm, weight=310-490 g
Habitats: Mountain
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Alpine swift / Alpensegler (Tachymarptis melba)

Alternate classification: Apus melba, Apus melba, Apus melba

Description

Classification: Genus Tachymarptis (Tachymarptis); Subfamily Apodinae (Apodinae); Family Swifts (Apodidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL R

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-01 - 09-25

Other Details

Habitats: Settlement

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2020-06-20 12:18:16 Luppmen (song)

Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube
♫ 2024-07-31 22:06:00 Kaltbrunner-Riet (song?)

Pomarine jaeger / Spatelraubmöwe (Stercorarius pomarinus)

Also known as: Pomarine skua

Description

Classification: Genus Stercorarius (Stercorarius); Family Stercorariidae (Stercorariidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: seltener Zugvogel

Seasonal behavior

Seldom seen here

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=46-51 cm, wingspan=125-138 cm, weight=600-900 g
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube

Velvet scoter / Samtente (Melanitta fusca)

Also known as: White-winged scoter

Description

Seldom heard. [Link]

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=51-58 cm, wingspan=90-99 cm, weight=1100-2000 g
Habitats: River and lake
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Mandarin duck / Mandarinente (Aix galericulata)

Alternate classification: Anas galericulata

Description

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

Whimbrel / Regenbrachvogel (Numenius phaeopus)

Also known as: Eurasian whimbrel

Description

Classification: Genus Curlews (Numenius); Family Shorebirds (Scolopacidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: Zugvogel

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-23 - 10-07
Migration in: 05-10 - 05-31
Migration out: 05-10 - 05-18

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=40-42 cm, wingspan=76-89 cm, weight=300-660 g
Habitats: Wetland
Details Wikipedia A-Z Animals Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Caspian tern / Raubseeschwalbe (Hydroprogne caspia)

Alternate classification: Sterna caspia

Also known as: Taranui

Description

Classification: Genus Hydroprogne (Hydroprogne); Family Gulls (Laridae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL 1

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-23 - 10-07
Migration in: 04-20 - 05-31
Migration out: 04-20 - 04-28

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=47-54 cm, wingspan=130-145 cm, weight=500-750 g
Habitats: River and lake
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Black tern / Trauerseeschwalbe (Chlidonias niger)

Description

Classification: Genus Chlidonias (Chlidonias); Family Gulls (Laridae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL 1
Vocalization:

Moderately vocal. [Link]

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=22-24 cm, wingspan=64-68 cm, weight=60-86 g
Habitats: River and lake
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Sandwich tern / Brandseeschwalbe (Thalasseus sandvicensis)

Alternate classification: Sterna sandvicensis

Description

Classification: Genus Thalasseus (Thalasseus); Family Gulls (Laridae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL 2

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=36-41 cm, wingspan=95-105 cm, weight=215-275 g
Habitats: River and lake
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Broad-billed sandpiper / Sumpfläufer (Calidris falcinellus)

Description

Classification: Genus Calidris (Calidris); Family Shorebirds (Scolopacidae)

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=16-17 cm, wingspan=37-39 cm, weight=30-49 g
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube

Little ringed plover / Flussregenpfeifer (Charadrius dubius)

Description

Classification: Genus Charadrius (Charadrius); Family Charadriidae (Charadriidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel
Vocalization:

Quite different from Ringed Plover. Sharper sounding, lacking Ringed's soft tone. Often starts with a rolling "r". [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-01 - 10-18
Breeding: 04-20 - 07-20
Migration in: 03-01 - 05-31
Migration out: 06-29 - 10-18

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=14-15 cm, wingspan=42-48 cm, weight=32-48 g
Habitats: Wetland

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2022-04-10 11:10:23 (song)

Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube
♫ 2022-04-12 13:52:04 (song?)

Dunlin / Alpenstrandläufer (Calidris alpina)

Description

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Migration in: 03-01 - 03-23
Migration out: 03-15 - 03-23

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=16-20 cm, wingspan=38-43 cm, weight=35-60 g
Habitats: Wetland
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

European honey-buzzard / Wespenbussard (Pernis apivorus)

Also known as: European honey buzzard

Description

Classification: Genus Pernis (Pernis); Subfamily True hawks (Accipitrinae); Family Accipitridae (Accipitridae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL V

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 05-01 - 09-25

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=52-60 cm, wingspan=135-150 cm, weight=360-1050 g
Habitats: Agricultural
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

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

Also known as: Black-crowned night heron

Description

Classification: Genus Night herons (Nycticorax); Family Herons (Ardeidae)
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 Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube

Greater short-toed lark / Kurzzehenlerche (Calandrella brachydactyla)

Alternate classification: Calandrella cinerea brachydactyla

Description

Classification: Genus Calandrella (Calandrella); Family Larks (Alaudidae)
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 Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto NABU YouTube

Short-eared owl / Sumpfohreule (Asio flammeus)

Alternate classification: Strix flammea

Description

Classification: Genus Asio (Asio); Family Strigidae (Strigidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL 1

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=37-39 cm, wingspan=95-110 cm, weight=260-420 g
Habitats: Wetland
Details Wikipedia A-Z Animals Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Audubon AllAboutBirds Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Corn crake / Wachtelkönig (Crex crex)

Also known as: Grass quail, Corncrake

Description

Classification: Genus Crex (Crex); Family Rails (Rallidae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL 2

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 05-25 - 09-25

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=27-30 cm, wingspan=46-53 cm, weight=120-200 g
Habitats: Agricultural
Details Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Barn owl / Schleiereule (Tyto alba)

Alternate classification: Strix alba

Also known as: Western barn owl, Common barn owl

Description

Classification: Genus Tyto (Tyto); Family Barn owls (Tytonidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel
Vocalization:

Large repertoire of mainly hissing and screeching sounds. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-01 - 09-17

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=33-35 cm, wingspan=80-95 cm, weight=240-350 g
Habitats: Agricultural
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Herring gull / Silbermöwe (Larus argentatus)

Also known as: Silbermoewe, European herring gull

Description

Classification: Genus Larus (Larus); Subfamily Larinae (Larinae); Family Gulls (Laridae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Asia.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Vocalization:

Quite vocal. A long and strong "ay-kay-kay-kay-kay" with fading strength commonly heard. A deep "ga-ga-ga" heard from anxious birds. [Link]

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=55-64 cm, wingspan=123-148 cm, weight=750-1440 g
Habitats: River and lake
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Rock ptarmigan / Alpenschneehuhn (Lagopus muta)

Description

Classification: Genus Lagopus (Lagopus); Subfamily Grouses (Tetraoninae); Family Turkeys (Phasianidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel RL R
Vocalization:

Female has similar sounds, but is higher pitched and not so coarse as male. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 05-01 - 08-09

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=34-36 cm, wingspan=54-60 cm, weight=350-600 g
Habitats: Mountain
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Arctic loon / Prachttaucher (Gavia arctica)

Also known as: Black-throated loon, Black-throated diver

Description

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Migration in: 02-01 - 02-10
Migration out: 02-02 - 02-10

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=58-73 cm, wingspan=110-130 cm, weight=1316-3400 g
Habitats: River and lake
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Pied avocet / Säbelschnäbler (Recurvirostra avosetta)

Description

Classification: Genus Recurvirostra (Recurvirostra); Family Recurvirostridae (Recurvirostridae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Vocalization:

Not very vocal away from breeding ground. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-23 - 12-07
Migration in: 05-01 - 06-20
Migration out: 05-01 - 06-08

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=42-45 cm, wingspan=77-80 cm, weight=260-290 g
Habitats: Wetland

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2022-04-08 17:18:58 (song)

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

Little tern / Zwergseeschwalbe (Sternula albifrons)

Alternate classification: Sterna albifrons

Description

Classification: Genus Sternula (Sternula); Family Gulls (Laridae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL 1
Vocalization:

Fairly distinct voice. [Link]

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=22-24 cm, wingspan=48-55 cm, weight=49-63 g
Habitats: River and lake
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White-fronted goose / Blässgans (Anser albifrons)

Alternate classification: Branta albifrons

Also known as: Greater white-fronted goose

Description

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
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Common greenshank / Grünschenkel (Tringa nebularia)

Description

Most heard is a characteristic, trisyllabic "tew-tew-tew" (sometimes two or four syllables). Can resemble redshank, but pitch more stable, and not falling notably. Each syllable is clearly separated and equally emphasized. [Link]

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=30-33 cm, wingspan=68-70 cm, weight=130-270 g
Habitats: Wetland
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Whiskered tern / Weissbart-Seeschwalbe (Chlidonias hybrida)

Alternate classification: Chlidonias hybridus

Description

Classification: Genus Chlidonias (Chlidonias); Family Gulls (Laridae)
General: Deutschland: ausnahmsweise Brutvogel, seltener Zugvogel RL R

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=23-25 cm, wingspan=74-78 cm, weight=79-94 g
Habitats: River and lake

Vocalisation

Calls:

Contact call freely used and fairly distinct: An extremely hoarse, and rasping "krreek" in various moods. Timbre comparable to Corncrake. Sometimes uttered in stuttering series "kr-kr-kr-kr-kr". [Link] No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
XC770351 - Whiskered Tern - Chlidonias hybrida - call, flight call - Heves County, Hungary.

♫ (flight call)

Call attributes: flight call Frequency: ,
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Red-necked grebe / Rothalstaucher (Podiceps grisegena)

Description

Most vocal at breeding ground. Wide repertoire of harsh, raucous and wailing sounds. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Migration in: 02-20 - 05-10
Migration out: 07-29 - 12-07

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=40-50 cm, wingspan=61-88 cm, weight=692-925 g
Habitats: River and lake
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European roller / Blauracke (Coracias garrulus)

Description

Classification: Genus Coracias (Coracias); Family Coraciidae (Coraciidae)

Vocalization:

Various dry rasping, sometimes mewing, sounds and short clicks: "ahrahrahrahrahrahrahr" or pulse of clicks: "trrrtrrrrtrr". Also a clearer raptor- or jay-like descending "piiuu". [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Seldom seen here
Presence: 04-20 - 10-07
Migration in: 06-29 - 07-07
Migration out: 07-29 - 10-07

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=30-32 cm, wingspan=66-73 cm, weight=120-160 g
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White-tailed eagle / Seeadler (Haliaeetus albicilla)

Alternate classification: Falco albicilla

Also known as: White-tailed sea eagle

Description

Classification: Genus Haliaeetus (Haliaeetus); Subfamily True hawks (Accipitrinae); Family Accipitridae (Accipitridae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel, Wintergast
Vocalization:

A sharp high-pitched clear "klyytt klyytt klyytt klyytt" is often heard. Uttered with some variation in pitch and timbre. Sometimes more raucous and not so high pitched. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Migration in: 02-01 - 04-01
Migration out: 11-06 - 12-31

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=70-90 cm, wingspan=200-240 cm, weight=3075-6920 g
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Barred warbler / Sperbergrasmücke (Curruca nisoria)

Alternate classification: Sylvia nisoria, Sylvia nisoria

Description

General: Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel RL 3

Seasonal behavior

Seldom seen here
Presence: 05-01 - 09-28
Breeding: 05-21 - 07-29
Migration in: 06-09 - 06-17
Migration out: 07-29 - 09-28

More details at Vogelwarte.ch
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Sanderling / Sanderling (Calidris alba)

Description

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-11 - 10-27
Migration in: 10-07 - 10-15
Migration out: 04-20 - 05-31

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=20-21 cm, wingspan=40-45 cm, weight=44-70 g
Habitats: Wetland
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Griffon vulture / Gänsegeier (Gyps fulvus)

Alternate classification: Vultur fulvus

Also known as: Eurasian griffon

Description

Classification: Genus Gyps (Gyps); Subfamily True hawks (Accipitrinae); Family Accipitridae (Accipitridae)
General:

The griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) is a large Old World vulture in the bird of prey family Accipitridae. It is also known as the Eurasian griffon. It is not to be confused with a different species, Rüppell's griffon vulture (Gyps rueppellii). It is closely related to the white-backed vulture (Gyps africanus). [more]
Vocalization:

Quite vocal for a vulture, but generally silent in flight. Various shrieking high notes, hissing, and harsh cackling sounds. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 04-20 - 10-18
Migration in: 04-20 - 10-18

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=95-105 cm, wingspan=240-280 cm, weight=7500-11000 g
Habitats: Agricultural
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Snow bunting / Schneeammer (Plectrophenax nivalis)

Alternate classification: Calcarius nivalis

Description

Classification: Genus Plectrophenax (Plectrophenax); Tribe Emberizini (Emberizini); Subfamily Emberizinae (Emberizinae); Family Fringillidae (Fringillidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General: Deutschland: Wintergast

Seasonal behavior

Seldom seen here
Presence: 02-01 - 12-16
Migration in: 11-26 - 12-16
Migration out: 11-26 - 12-03

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=16-17 cm, wingspan=32-38 cm, weight=28-50 g
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Eurasian stone-curlew / Triel (Burhinus oedicnemus)

Alternate classification: Charadrius oedicnemus

Also known as: Eurasian thick-knee

Description

Classification: Genus Burhinus (Burhinus); Family Burhinidae (Burhinidae)
General:

The Eurasian stone-curlew, Eurasian thick-knee, or simply stone-curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) is a northern species of the Burhinidae (stone-curlew) bird family. [more]

Seasonal behavior

Presence: 03-12 - 10-07
Migration in: 05-01 - 05-08
Migration out: 07-20 - 10-07

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=40-44 cm, wingspan=77-85 cm, weight=430-500 g
Habitats: Wetland
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Ruddy duck / Schwarzkopf-Ruderente (Oxyura jamaicensis)

Description

Classification: Genus Oxyura (Oxyura); Subfamily Dabbling ducks plus extinct (Anatinae); Family Waterfowl (Anatidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America.
General: Deutschland: eingebürgertes Neozoon, ausnahmsweise Brutvogel
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Smew / Zwergsäger (Mergellus albellus)

Alternate classification: Mergus albellus

Also known as: Zwergsaeger

Description

Classification: Genus Mergellus (Mergellus); Subfamily Dabbling ducks plus extinct (Anatinae); Family Waterfowl (Anatidae)
General: Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast
Vocalization:

Mostly quiet except when displaying, and even then difficult to hear. Male: an ascending, froglike, rattling pulse of clicks. Also various grunting sounds. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Migration in: 01-21 - 01-29
Migration out: 01-21 - 02-01

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=38-44 cm, wingspan=55-69 cm, weight=500-800 g
Habitats: River and lake
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Common whooper / Singschwan (Cygnus cygnus)

Also known as: Whooper swan, Singschwäne

Description

Classification: Genus Swans (Cygnus); Tribe Swans (Cygnini); Subfamily Anserinae (Anserinae); Family Waterfowl (Anatidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General: Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast RL R
Vocalization:

Quite vocal. Trumpet-like clear honks of half a second length most frequent in flight and take-off/landing. Often voiced with a register break. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Migration in: 03-12 - 03-19
Migration out: 02-20 - 03-12

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=145-160 cm, wingspan=218-243 cm, weight=8500-10000 g
Habitats: River and lake

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2024-12-07 10:28:00 (song)

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