Intermediate Egret Ardea Intermedia in the Neretva River Valley (Croatia): Evaluation of Historical and Recent Data on its Movements

Abstract

Two years after the first description of the heron species Intermediate Egret, in Manuel d'ornithologie (1840), the physician and natural historian Francesco Lanza observed several specimens of this species (under the name of Ardea egrettoides) in the valley of Neretva, just off the southern East Adriatic (Croatian) coast. Yet Lanza's observation remained unnoticed by the ornithological audience until the present day. An analysis of Lanza's description of the species, historical circumstances of this first record, as well as recent data on the appearance of this species outside its typical area of distribution speak in favour of the correct determination of specimens of this species in the valley of Neretva. Therefore, Lanza's description of Intermediate Egret in the valley of Neretva is the first record of this species in Europe. Sightings of this species outside its area of distribution confirm the existence of two distinct directions of movement: West African and Mediterranean.

Keywords

rare birds herons movements Yellow-billed Egret Neretva valley

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