Hutovo Blato, the unique sub Mediterranean swamps in Europe, is located on the South of Herzegovina and is one of biggest location of birds in wintertime. It’s outspread on the area of 7411 hectare and is located on one of the four migration ways of the birds from north and middle Europe towards Asia and Africa. The biggest number of birds’ species are registered in the time of autumn and spring migrations, but there are the big number of birds, which stays for winter and nesting.
The turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur) is brown – gray bird with very pleasant voice from the Columbidae family. It builds its nest high in the tree, which is hidden well in the treetop. The female, on which both female and male are sitting interchangeably, lays down the one or two white eggs.
The Common Teal (Anas crecca) is the smallest dabbling duck on the Neretva. The females are light brown, while the male is colored with big green surface on the head and the long white line on the wings. In the time of courtship the Common Tales are emitting sounds like ring. They laid down 8 to 11 eggs in the nest on which female is sitting. Babies are growing fast and leave the parental nest.
Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) are the most numerous duck in the area of delta Neretva. The male has green head, yellow bill tin white necklace and purple-brown breasts. The female is light brown with the orange bill; she laid down 9 to 13 eggs in the nest. After 27 to 28 days a young ducklings are hatching who grow very fast and become independent.
Coot (Fulica atra) is unique black duck on the Neretva, it has snowy white forehead and bill, green legs and partial webbing. They live in big flocks, when it's scared first it will run on the water surface and the fly up. They twist the nest in the shallow water from the parts of swamp plants, which are brought by the male. They laid down 6 to 10 eggs from which little, black birds are hatching with reddish feather on the head.
