Size & weight: 19-22 cm, 75-100 g

Appearance: Shimmering green-blue-purple plumage; females in spring with more light spots on underside than males. From autumn, plumage of both sexes is uniformly dark and densely mottled with yellow.

Habitat: Inhabits open, short-grassed areas with large, cavity-rich trees, often on urban fringes.

Song: Varied song, imitation of other bird calls

Nest & breeding: Builds nests in tree cavities, building niches or nesting boxes. The female lays 4-8 eggs 1-2 times a year between March and June.

 

Play song © Marie-Lan Taÿ Pamart / xeno-canto.org, XC483803, CC BY-SA 4.0

 

A joint initiative of the Austrian Ornithological Centre and Die Garten Tulln