four moderate-sized ones until big heron-types, that in the dense Uferbewuchs of Africa's inner-waters, Eurasia, Australia and New Zealand as well as in north and South America a hidden and inconspicuous existence leads, one marks as Rohrdommeln.
Shape All Rohrdommeln are penetrated birds with short, thick neck and short legs, a relatively short, powerful beak (at the top with finely serrated horn-cuts) and very soft, camouflage-colored plumage (with 10 tax-feathers). Jewelry-feathers don't train Rohrdommeln, also both sexes resemble from; the males often are somewhat bigger.
Way of life Although Rohrdommeln are quite frequent, one almost never becomes excellently aware on it in reed and Röhricht of camouflaged shape and hidden way of life because of its. The males call only to the Balzzeit, particularly in the twilight, according to and dull (the widened esophagus serves as resonance-bodies), that it often resounds kilometer-far. These typical Balzrufe let (bog-ox, water-ox, reed-ox, moss-herons) many popular names originate for Rohrdommeln. One calls madperson-leading-proof it also "cow-herons", what not any inappropriate name actually is, from time to time, only it leads easily to mix-ups with the actual cow-heron (Ardeola ibis).
Types The 70 cm big Australian Rohrdommel (Botaurus poiciloptilus) lives in South-Australia, Tasmania, New Caledonia and New Zealand while the spread-area of the 58-65 cm of big South American Rohrdommel (Botaurus pinnatus) of Mexico extends to North-Argentina. The 66-68 cm big North American Rohrdommel (B). lentiginosus, comes until South-California southwards as well as. Maryland before. As Irrgast, it quite frequently appears to the Färöern on the British islands, Iceland, and rarely also on the continent. its more inferior size, the absence of a black "vertex" as well as the strongly patterned upper side and they distinguish from the actual Rohrdommel stronger black spot on each neck-side.
Rohrdommel (Botaurus stellaris)) The Rohrdommel becomes long until 76 cm and 1,35 kg heavy. it occurs in the Mediterranean-area (besides Italy, Greece), in the restrained Eurasia and in the southern Africa.
Way of life The Rohrdommel lasts usually hidden in the Röhricht where this heron around-climbs skillfully and its typical "post-position", in which it hardly differs from the reed, earns with threatening danger. The bird with its far at the side standing eyes observes completely exactly the surroundings on that occasion, until sometimes finally it itself, only after hours-long attendants, quite cautiously, in the "slow motion" creeps away. If a Rohrdommel is driven hopeless into the narrowness, so it takes an owl-nicely ducked defense-attitude with resisted plumage and far spread wings one, from which it attacks the enemy with beak-pushes fast as lightning out. The easily opened beak is an effective stabbing weapon, with which Rohrdommeln can kill small animals easily at the defense; with bigger aggressors, the birds fix the eyes of the opponent and try to chop after the face.
Nutrition Mainly during the day, Rohrdommeln hunt after fishings, amphibians, water-insects, worms and cancer-animals; also, they carry off small-mammals and young birds occasionally. The loot-animals seize it from a "ansitzenden" Lauerstellung or from a sneaking stalk out. Particularly in England, eels form a bulk of the food; its strong phlegm induces the birds to rub in the head and neck-plumage powerfully after the consuming the fish at the Puderdunenpolstern in order to comb carefully after the Antrocknen phlegm and powders. Afterwards fat Rohrdommeln its plumage with a secretion of the (with "Dommeln" quite well developed) Bürzeldrüsen one.
Zugverhalten Young Rohrdommeln rove (like many herons) far around while many of the European brood-birds spend the winter in its brood-area what often turns into the undoing for them in strict winters. However, a large part moves to west and Southern Europe in the winter or until into the tropical Africa.
Reproduction Rohrdommeln are polygamously alive; after the arrival in the brood-area (February-March), the males occupy its "mating-precinct" in (March-April) which several females then cover the relaxed, flat reed-nests densely over the water level and erbrüten 5-6 (also 4-7) eggs. The males don't take part in the brood-business or at the Aufzucht of the boys. After 25-26 days, bedunten nest-stools slip the brown. Already after 8 days, they take the "post-position" with threatening danger; they usually leave the nest in the age of 4-5 weeks (often however also already after 2-3 weeks) and roam after it in the surroundings, until they are completely independent and airworthy with 8 weeks.
Endangering The Rohrdommel is on the red list of the types threatened by the extinction with us.
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