Croatia’s mix of rocky coasts, wetlands, islands and mountain ranges creates a patchwork of habitats that attract a wide variety of birds throughout the year. River valleys, lagoons and offshore waters each host different communities, so a single day’s birding can include seabirds, waders and woodland species.
There are 84 Birds of Croatia, ranging from Alpine Swift to Yellow-legged Gull, showing the breadth from aerial insectivores to coastal scavengers. Each entry is organized with columns: Scientific name,Residency,Main regions to help identification and trip planning, and you’ll find below.
When is the best time to see the most species in Croatia?
Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) migration windows bring the highest species turnover—spring is especially good for breeding migrants, while autumn has large southbound movements; wetlands and coastal stopovers are prime during these periods.
How can I use the list to plan a birding trip?
Use the Scientific name to confirm IDs, check Residency to know whether a species is resident or seasonal, and consult Main regions to pick sites; combine that with local reserve info and seasonal timing for the most efficient outings.
Birds of Croatia
| Common name | Scientific name | Residency | Main regions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | Resident and regular migrant | Inland lakes, rivers, coastal lagoons |
| Mute Swan | Cygnus olor | Resident and winter visitor | Inland wetlands, large lakes, river valleys |
| Greylag Goose | Anser anser | Regular migrant and winter visitor | Wetlands, agricultural plains, coastal lagoons |
| Common Shelduck | Tadorna tadorna | Regular migrant and summer visitor | Coastal lagoons, estuaries, salt pans |
| Northern Shoveler | Spatula clypeata | Regular migrant and winter visitor | Wetlands, marshes, inland lakes |
| Eurasian Wigeon | Mareca penelope | Regular migrant and winter visitor | Inland lakes, coastal lagoons, wetlands |
| Gadwall | Mareca strepera | Regular migrant and winter visitor | Freshwater lakes, marshes, coastal lagoons |
| Tufted Duck | Aythya fuligula | Regular migrant and winter visitor | Deep lakes, reservoirs, coastal waters |
| Ferruginous Duck | Aythya nyroca | Regular breeder and migrant (scarce) | Reed-fringed lakes, marshes, inland wetlands |
| Great Cormorant | Phalacrocorax carbo | Resident and regular breeder | Coastline, islands, rivers, lakes |
| Little Egret | Egretta garzetta | Regular breeder and migrant | Coastal lagoons, river deltas, wetlands |
| Grey Heron | Ardea cinerea | Resident and regular breeder | Wetlands, rivers, coasts, park ponds |
| Great Egret | Ardea alba | Regular breeder and migrant | Lakes, marshes, coastal wetlands |
| Little Grebe | Tachybaptus ruficollis | Resident and regular breeder | Small lakes, ponds, reed-fringed waterbodies |
| Dalmatian Pelican | Pelecanus crispus | Vagrant (rare) or occasional visitor | Large wetlands, river deltas (rare) |
| White Stork | Ciconia ciconia | Regular breeder and migrant | Farmland, wetlands, river valleys, villages |
| Black Stork | Ciconia nigra | Regular migrant and scarce breeder | Forested wetlands, large rivers, remote river valleys |
| Eurasian Spoonbill | Platalea leucorodia | Regular migrant and summer visitor | Coastal lagoons, estuaries, marshes |
| Greater Flamingo | Phoenicopterus roseus | Regular migrant and vagrant visitor | Coastal lagoons, salt pans (Dalmatia) |
| White-tailed Eagle | Haliaeetus albicilla | Resident and regular breeder | Coastal islands, large lakes, river mouths |
| Golden Eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | Resident and regular breeder | Mountain ranges, Dinaric Alps, remote highlands |
| Common Buzzard | Buteo buteo | Resident and regular breeder | Wooded hills, agricultural lowlands, mountains |
| Eurasian Sparrowhawk | Accipiter nisus | Resident and regular breeder | Woodlands, towns, parks |
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | Regular migrant and summer visitor | Coastal waters, large lakes, river mouths |
| Common Kestrel | Falco tinnunculus | Resident and regular breeder | Open farmland, cliffs, towns |
| Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus | Regular breeder and migrant (scarce) | Cliffs, coastlines, cities |
| Hobby | Falco subbuteo | Regular migrant and summer visitor | Open woodlands, wetlands, coastlines |
| Red-footed Falcon | Falco vespertinus | Regular migrant and rare breeder | Open farmland, lowland steppes, wetlands |
| Common Kingfisher | Alcedo atthis | Resident and regular breeder | Rivers, streams, lakes, coastal inlets |
| European Bee-eater | Merops apiaster | Regular migrant and summer visitor | Open countryside, river valleys, coastal plains |
| Hoopoe | Upupa epops | Regular migrant and summer visitor | Open woodland, orchards, olive groves, lowlands |
| Eurasian Magpie | Pica pica | Resident and regular breeder | Farmland, parks, woodlands, towns |
| Hooded Crow | Corvus cornix | Resident and regular breeder | Coastline, islands, farmland, towns |
| Eurasian Jay | Garrulus glandarius | Resident and regular breeder | Woodlands, oak forests, hills |
| Common Raven | Corvus corax | Resident and regular breeder | Mountains, cliffs, remote areas |
| Eurasian Jackdaw | Coloeus monedula | Resident and regular breeder | Farmland, towns, cliffs, woodlands |
| European Robin | Erithacus rubecula | Resident and regular breeder | Woodlands, gardens, parks, hedgerows |
| Common Nightingale | Luscinia megarhynchos | Regular breeder and migrant | Dense scrub, river valleys, reed edges |
| Blackcap | Sylvia atricapilla | Regular breeder and migrant | Woodlands, gardens, scrub |
| Common Chiffchaff | Phylloscopus collybita | Regular migrant and breeding visitor | Woodlands, parks, reed edges |
| Willow Warbler | Phylloscopus trochilus | Regular migrant and summer visitor | Woodlands, hedgerows, uplands |
| Great Tit | Parus major | Resident and regular breeder | Woodlands, parks, gardens |
| Blue Tit | Cyanistes caeruleus | Resident and regular breeder | Woodlands, gardens, parks |
| Eurasian Nuthatch | Sitta europaea | Resident and regular breeder | Mature woodlands, parks, orchards |
| Common Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | Resident and regular breeder | Urban areas, farmland, wetlands |
| House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | Resident and regular breeder | Villages, towns, agricultural areas |
| Tree Sparrow | Passer montanus | Resident and regular breeder | Farmland, villages, hedgerows |
| Common Chaffinch | Fringilla coelebs | Resident and regular breeder | Woodlands, parks, gardens |
| European Greenfinch | Chloris chloris | Resident and regular breeder | Woodlands, farmland, gardens |
| European Goldfinch | Carduelis carduelis | Resident and regular breeder | Open woodlands, gardens, farmland |
| Eurasian Siskin | Spinus spinus | Regular migrant and winter visitor | Coniferous woodlands, river valleys |
| Cetti’s Warbler | Cettia cetti | Resident and regular breeder | Reedbeds, dense riverside scrub, wetlands |
| Great Reed Warbler | Acrocephalus arundinaceus | Regular breeder and migrant | Large reedbeds, marshes, river deltas |
| Little Bittern | Ixobrychus minutus | Regular breeder and migrant | Reedbeds, marshes, slow rivers |
| Black-headed Gull | Chroicocephalus ridibundus | Regular breeder and migrant | Coastal lagoons, inland lakes, wetlands |
| Yellow-legged Gull | Larus michahellis | Resident and regular breeder | Adriatic coast, islands, harbours |
| Mediterranean Gull | Ichthyaetus melanocephalus | Regular breeder and migrant (locally common) | Coastal lagoons, salt pans, islands |
| Audouin’s Gull | Ichthyaetus audouinii | Regular visitor and scarce breeder | Coastal waters, islands, lagoons |
| Little Tern | Sternula albifrons | Regular breeder and migrant | Sandy beaches, spits, coastal lagoons |
| Common Tern | Sterna hirundo | Regular migrant and breeder | Coastal lagoons, islands, lakes |
| Sandwich Tern | Thalasseus sandvicensis | Regular breeder and migrant | Coastal waters, islands, estuaries |
| Whiskered Tern | Chlidonias hybrida | Regular breeder and migrant | Freshwater marshes, reedbeds, lakes |
| Common Sandpiper | Actitis hypoleucos | Regular migrant and breeding visitor | Riverbanks, lakeshores, rocky coasts |
| Redshank | Tringa totanus | Regular migrant and breeder | Coastal mudflats, estuaries, inland wetlands |
| Common Greenshank | Tringa nebularia | Regular migrant and winter visitor | Coastal wetlands, estuaries, inland lakes |
| Dunlin | Calidris alpina | Regular migrant and winter visitor | Coastal mudflats, tidal areas, lagoons |
| Sanderling | Calidris alba | Regular migrant and winter visitor | Sandy beaches, coastal mudflats |
| Kentish Plover | Charadrius alexandrinus | Regular breeder and migrant | Sandy beaches, salt pans, coastal lagoons |
| Little Ringed Plover | Charadrius dubius | Regular breeder and migrant | Gravel river margins, lakeshores, coastal flats |
| Black-winged Stilt | Himantopus himantopus | Regular breeder and migrant | Shallow coastal lagoons, salt pans, inland marshes |
| Rock Partridge | Alectoris graeca | Resident and local breeder | Mountain slopes, rocky terrain, Dinaric Alps |
| Grey Partridge | Perdix perdix | Resident and regular breeder | Farmland, open fields, lowland agricultural areas |
| Common Quail | Coturnix coturnix | Regular breeder and migrant | Farmland, meadows, reed edges |
| Eurasian Woodcock | Scolopax rusticola | Regular winter visitor and breeder (wooded areas) | Woodland, damp forests, river valleys |
| Common Cuckoo | Cuculus canorus | Regular migrant and summer visitor | Open woodlands, meadows, river valleys |
| Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | Regular migrant and breeder | Open farmland, villages, lakeshores |
| House Martin | Delichon urbicum | Regular migrant and breeder | Villages, towns, cliffs, bridges |
| Sand Martin | Riparia riparia | Regular migrant and breeder | Riverbanks, sand cliffs, lakeshores |
| Alpine Swift | Apus melba | Regular migrant and breeder | Cliffs, rocky gorges, coastal cliffs, towns |
| Common Swift | Apus apus | Regular migrant and breeder | Urban areas, towns, cliffs |
| Scopoli’s Shearwater | Calonectris diomedea | Regular breeder and migrant | Adriatic islands, open sea, offshore islets |
| Marsh Harrier | Circus aeruginosus | Regular breeder and migrant | Reedbeds, marshes, coastal lagoons |
| Red-backed Shrike | Lanius collurio | Regular breeder and migrant | Open scrub, hedgerows, farmland edges |
| Golden Oriole | Oriolus oriolus | Regular breeder and migrant | Deciduous woodlands, river valleys, orchards |
Images and Descriptions
Mallard
Familiar dabbling duck with a glossy-green headed male and mottled female; common on lakes, rivers and coastal lagoons. Widespread across Croatia and easy to spot, often visited in parks and wetlands throughout the year.
Mute Swan
Large white swan with an orange bill and graceful neck; common on bigger Croatian lakes and reservoirs. Seen year-round in some sites, more concentrated in winter when waterfowl gather at open-water areas.
Greylag Goose
Large grey goose with pink bill, often in flocks on wetlands and farmland. Migratory and wintering flocks common in inland wetlands and coastal lagoons; frequent and conspicuous where fields and marshes meet.
Common Shelduck
Colourful coastal duck with chestnut band and glossy green head in males; found in Adriatic lagoons and salt pans. Seen during migration and on coastal wetlands, especially in Dalmatia and Istria.
Northern Shoveler
Distinctive long spatulate bill on males and mottled females; frequents shallow wetlands and marshes. Regular migrant and winter visitor to Croatia’s lakes and reed-fringed marshes.
Eurasian Wigeon
Compact duck with pinkish-tinged head in males; appears in winter and migration. Common on larger lakes and coastal lagoons where water levels and food attract mixed dabbling-duck flocks.
Gadwall
Subtly patterned dabbling duck with a slim profile; often mixes with other ducks in shallow wetlands. Regular migrant and winter visitor throughout Croatia’s inland and coastal wetlands.
Tufted Duck
Diving duck with black-and-white contrast and male’s tuft; prefers deeper lakes and reservoirs. Common as a winter visitor and on migration, often in mixed diving-duck flocks.
Ferruginous Duck
Attractive dark brown diving duck with rusty tones; breeds in some Croatian reedbeds and frequents wetlands during migration. Local and declining in parts, notable for wetland conservation interest.
Great Cormorant
Large blackish cormorant often seen drying wings on rocks and piers; common along the Adriatic coast and on inland waters. Widespread and regularly nesting on cliffs, islets and rivers.
Little Egret
Slender white heron with black legs and yellow feet; common in coastal marshes and inland wetlands. Increasing in numbers and easily observed stalking fish in shallow water.
Grey Heron
Tall, long-necked grey heron common across Croatia; stands motionless while hunting fish in lakes, rivers and coastal shallows. Seen year-round and a familiar sight to birdwatchers and photographers.
Great Egret
Large white egret with a long, yellow bill and slow deliberate hunting style; breeds in wetlands and appears in increasing numbers. Eye-catching and often seen in reedbeds and shallow lagoons.
Little Grebe
Small diving grebe with a compact body and distinctive breeding plumage; secretive but common on small waterbodies and reed-lined ponds across Croatia.
Dalmatian Pelican
Huge white pelican with curly nape feathers; a rare but memorable visitor to large Croatian wetlands. Seen only occasionally, records are notable for birders and conservationists.
White Stork
Tall white stork with black wing tips, often nesting on chimneys and poles; migratory but breeds widely in lowland areas and wetlands. A culturally familiar species in rural Croatia.
Black Stork
Shy black-and-white stork preferring wooded valleys and undisturbed wetlands; migrates through Croatia and breeds rarely in remote riverine forests.
Eurasian Spoonbill
Elegant white bird with a flattened spoon-shaped bill used for sweeping shallow water; recorded regularly in Adriatic lagoons and salt pans during migration and summer.
Greater Flamingo
Tall pink flamingo occasionally seen feeding in shallow Adriatic lagoons and salt pans; numbers vary by year but sightings are spectacular and popular with photographers.
White-tailed Eagle
Massive sea eagle with broad wings and pale tail; breeds along the Dalmatian coast and inland lakes, an iconic top predator often seen soaring near water.
Golden Eagle
Powerful raptor of mountain areas, often solitary and elusive. Found in Croatia’s high Dinaric regions, prized by mountain birdwatchers for its dramatic displays and hunting prowess.
Common Buzzard
Widespread medium-sized raptor with variable plumage; common across forests and farmland in Croatia. Often seen perched on posts or soaring on thermals hunting small mammals and reptiles.
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Small agile hawk that flashes through trees to catch birds; occurs in both woodlands and urban areas. Notable for quick bursts of flight and distinctive rounded wings.
Osprey
Fish-eating raptor that nests near open water; regular migrant and occasional breeder along the Adriatic and larger inland lakes. Recognised by hovering hunting style and clutching talons.
Common Kestrel
Small falcon often seen hovering over fields hunting rodents and insects; common across agricultural landscapes and urban fringes in Croatia, a familiar and widespread raptor.
Peregrine Falcon
Powerful cliff-nesting falcon that also uses tall buildings in cities; famous for high-speed stoops when hunting. Found along coasts and mountain cliffs, occasionally in urban areas.
Hobby
Sleek, fast falcon that feeds on flying insects and small birds; noticeable during late spring and summer over wetlands and open landscapes across Croatia.
Red-footed Falcon
Small, swift falcon with distinctive red legs and aerial hunting skill; regular migrant and occasional breeder in suitable lowland habitats, attracting attention during migration.
Common Kingfisher
Tiny, colorful bird with bright blue back and orange belly; sits close to water and darts out to catch fish. Secretive but conspicuous where clear streams and riverbanks occur.
European Bee-eater
Striking multicoloured bird that nests in sandy banks; migratory visitor and local breeder on warm Adriatic islands and mainland river valleys. Famous for chasing insects in aerial flights.
Hoopoe
Distinctive crested bird with cinnamon-plumage and black-and-white wings; common in warm lowland areas and gardens during the breeding season and early autumn migration.
Eurasian Magpie
Bold black-and-white corvid with long tail; common in towns and countryside. Intelligent and vocal, often seen scavenging or collecting shiny objects.
Hooded Crow
Grey-bodied crow with black head and wings; typical of coastal Croatia and islands. Common, adaptable and conspicuous in urban and rural settings along the Adriatic.
Eurasian Jay
Colorful corvid with pinkish body and blue wing patches; noisy and secretive in woodlands, a key species of mature forests and acorn dispersal.
Common Raven
Large all-black corvid with deep croak; inhabits remote mountain and cliff areas in Croatia. Intelligent and long-lived, often seen soaring over highland areas.
Eurasian Jackdaw
Small black-and-grey corvid with pale eyes; social and often found in flocks around buildings, farmland and coastal cliffs. Common and vocal across Croatia.
European Robin
Friendly, plump songbird with orange-red breast; sings year-round and commonly seen in gardens and woodlands. One of the most familiar and loved birds in Croatia.
Common Nightingale
Renowned for its rich song, a secretive brown bird found in dense vegetation near rivers and scrub. Breeds across warm lowland areas and is cherished by watchers in spring evenings.
Blackcap
Small grey warbler with a distinctive black (male) or brown (female) cap; sings melodiously and is a common breeding bird in gardens, parks and woodland edges.
Common Chiffchaff
Tiny greenish warbler with a repetitive “chiff-chaff” song; widespread during migration and often a breeding resident in wooded and scrubby habitats across Croatia.
Willow Warbler
Delicate, pale warbler with a descending song; common spring migrant and breeder in open woodlands and upland scrub, often detected by song rather than sight.
Great Tit
Large, bold tit with a black head and yellow underparts; common and long-lived in towns, woodlands and gardens. Frequent at feeders and an easy species to identify by song.
Blue Tit
Small blue-and-yellow tit, agile and curious; common in gardens, parks and woodlands. Often nests in cavities and readily visits bird feeders during colder months.
Eurasian Nuthatch
Small, compact bird that climbs tree trunks headfirst; favours mature beech and oak forests and is unmistakable by its loud calls and tree-clinging behavior.
Common Starling
Glossy black starling with iridescence and gregarious behaviour; forms large flocks and roosts, often abundant in towns and agricultural areas. Vocal and a skilled mimic.
House Sparrow
Small, familiar brown sparrow often found around human habitation; common in towns, villages and farmyards throughout Croatia, associated with buildings and people.
Tree Sparrow
Smaller, chestnut-capped sparrow with a cheek spot; prefers farmland and village edges. Common in rural areas and farmland mosaics where hedges and barns provide nest sites.
Common Chaffinch
Bright male with pinkish underparts and blue-grey head; widespread and vocal in woodlands and gardens. One of the most familiar finches across Croatia.
European Greenfinch
Sturdy greenish finch with yellow wing flashes; frequents hedgerows, gardens and farmland where it feeds on seeds and buds. Common and conspicuous at feeders.
European Goldfinch
Colorful small finch with red face and striking black-and-yellow wings; common in farmland edges and gardens, often in small flocks feeding on thistle seeds.
Eurasian Siskin
Small streaky finch with a forked tail and flashing yellow in flight; arrives in winter and during migration in variable numbers, favouring conifer-rich woodlands and riversides.
Cetti’s Warbler
Secretive, dumpy warbler with loud explosive song; stays hidden in dense reeds and scrub along rivers and lakes. Common in reedbeds of inland wetlands.
Great Reed Warbler
Large, loud-singing warbler of extensive reeds; breeds in marshes and reed-fringed lakes, conspicuous by song though often hard to see among the stems.
Little Bittern
Small, secretive heron with streaked brown and cream; hides in dense reeds but can be seen at dawn/dusk. Breeds in suitable wetlands and is a sought-after species for reedbed watchers.
Black-headed Gull
Small gull with summer chocolate-brown head and energetic feeding habits; common in coastal and inland wetlands, nesting in colonies and abundant during migration.
Yellow-legged Gull
Large grey-backed gull common along the Dalmatian coast and islands; bold and adaptable, often scavenging in ports and beaches. A familiar sight for coastal birdwatchers.
Mediterranean Gull
Elegant gull with a delicate structure and black hood in summer; breeds in coastal wetlands and islands and is increasing as a regular coastal species in Croatia.
Audouin’s Gull
Slim, specialist Mediterranean gull with a sturdy bill and graceful flight; locally breeding and regular along the Adriatic, prized by seabird watchers for a coastal spot.
Little Tern
Tiny tern with a forked tail and rapid flight; nests on sandy beaches and spits, vulnerable but regularly seen along the Adriatic coast during summer breeding season.
Common Tern
Graceful, medium-sized tern with forked tail and agile feeding dives; breeds on coasts and lakes in Croatia and is a common summer visitor along shorelines.
Sandwich Tern
Large tern with shaggy crest and slender bill; nests in coastal colonies and forages offshore. Seen regularly along the Adriatic, especially near islands and shoals.
Whiskered Tern
Dark-backed marsh tern with a black cap and white cheeks; breeds in inland wetlands and floats over reed-fringed lakes catching insects and small fish.
Common Sandpiper
Small, upright wader with teetering walk and distinctive flight; common on riverbanks and shores during migration and as a summer visitor where suitable habitat exists.
Redshank
Medium wader with red legs and loud piping call; frequents mudflats, salt pans and marshes during migration and breeding, a familiar coastal species.
Common Greenshank
Large greenish-legged wader with a slightly upturned bill; arrives during migration and winter to feed on mudflats and shallow shores, often in mixed wader flocks.
Dunlin
Small plover-like sandpiper with downcurved bill in winter plumage; common on coastal mudflats and lagoons during migration and in winter where flocks gather.
Sanderling
Active pale sandpiper that runs the surf line; common during migration and winter on sandy Adriatic beaches and exposed shores, often in running feeding flocks.
Kentish Plover
Small, pale plover with dark eye stripe; nests on open sandy beaches and salt pans along the Adriatic and is a characteristic coastal breeder.
Little Ringed Plover
Tiny plover with a black neck-band and yellow eye-ring; breeds on gravelly shores and riverbanks and is commonly seen during migration at inland waterbodies.
Black-winged Stilt
Tall, long-legged wader with pink legs and slender bill; nests in colonies on shallow lagoons and salt pans, a striking and conspicuous wetland species.
Rock Partridge
Sturdy gamebird of rocky mountain slopes with patterned plumage; a speciality of Croatia’s Dinaric highlands, sought by mountain birders for its localized distribution.
Grey Partridge
Ground-dwelling gamebird with mottled brown plumage; common in agricultural landscapes and field mosaics, often seen in small coveys in farmland.
Common Quail
Small, secretive brown gamebird with a scratchy call; migratory and breeds in grassy farmland and meadows, often heard at dawn and dusk rather than seen.
Eurasian Woodcock
Cryptic, stocky wader of damp woodlands that feeds by probing soil for invertebrates; seen in woodland edges and during migration, often flushed with explosive flight.
Common Cuckoo
Famous brood parasite that migrates through and breeds in Croatia; the male’s distinctive “cuckoo” call is often heard in spring and early summer across suitable habitats.
Barn Swallow
Iconic aerial insectivore with forked tail and swooping flight; breeds on barns and bridges across Croatia and is a widespread summer visitor that chases insects over fields and water.
House Martin
White-rumped swallow that builds mud nests under eaves; common breeder in towns and villages, often seen hawking insects above fields and near water.
Sand Martin
Small brown-backed swallow that nests in colonies in sandbanks and gravel pits; common along rivers and lakes during spring and summer in suitable habitats.
Alpine Swift
Large swift with long wings that nests on cliffs and old buildings; impressive aerialist often seen in summer over rocky coasts and gorges, nesting in crevices.
Common Swift
High-speed aerial insectivore that spends most of life on the wing; nests in buildings and breeds widely in towns across Croatia during the warm months.
Scopoli’s Shearwater
Large Mediterranean shearwater that breeds on offshore islands and forages at sea; a prime target for pelagic trips in Adriatic waters where it is regularly encountered.
Marsh Harrier
Large harrier that quarter-s low over reedbeds hunting small birds and mammals; breeds in extensive reed systems and is a characteristic species of Croatian wetlands.
Red-backed Shrike
Small shrike with a hooked bill and habit of impaling prey on thorns; breeds in open countryside and hedgerows, a colourful and territorial summer visitor.
Golden Oriole
Bright yellow-black songbird with a fluting call; skulks in canopy of mature trees and breeds in river valleys and orchards, a rewarding species to hear and sometimes see.
