Squacco Heron
Ardeola ralloides
See this bird on the water. Private boat tours from Rijeka Crnojevića, your group only.
The squacco heron is the lake's best magic trick. At rest it is a small, buff-brown, rather dull bird crouched at the edge of the reeds. The moment it opens its wings it turns brilliant white, and seems to vanish and reappear as it flies.
It is a summer bird here, with records peaking hard in July and August. Outside those months you are unlikely to see one — it winters in sub-Saharan Africa.
It hunts patiently and at close quarters, so a boat drifting quietly along a reed edge often gets within a few metres before it moves.
When to see it on Lake Skadar
Most often recorded in July and August, from 833 sightings logged on the lake. July is the single strongest month.
- Jan: 0 records
- Feb: 0 records
- Mar: 8 records
- Apr: 93 records
- May: 127 records
- Jun: 108 records
- Jul: 189 records
- Aug: 170 records
- Sep: 112 records
- Oct: 25 records
- Nov: 0 records
- Dec: 0 records
Peak months Other months
Conservation status
Least Concern
Records on the lake
833
Peak season
Jul and Aug
Habitat
Dense reed edges and water-lily fields
Where on the lake
Dense reed edges and lily fields, especially where a channel narrows. The reed channels on the 3 Rivers route in midsummer are the classic place for it.
How to tell it apart
Buff-brown at rest, flashing white wings in flight — the transformation is the identification.
