Appearance:

Similar to Starling, and may be difficult to tell apart in winter and immature plumages. Most birds are in breeding plumage from March on, completely lacking spots, and with a purple (not green) sheen. Flight feathers lacks pale fringes, and the overall look is much darker than Starling. Elongated head and throat feathers are slightly longer than in Starling. Winter and immature plumage birds difficult to identify, but has small and spearhead-shaped spots, and darker wings (due to lack of pale fringes). Leg colour generally paler pink, than Starling, but some overlap occurs.

Sound:

Similar to Starling in form and variation, but the long, descending whistling notes are more dominant and accented. Sometimes uttered as trills, or "stuttered". Whistles also used as contact calls when not breeding.

Song:

Distribution:

Xeno-canto: map

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

CC-sound:Espen Quinto-Ashman, Licence,Link.

CC-Photo:Helen Commandeur, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

Distinguished in all plumages by double wing-bars and white outer tail feathers. Male easily recognized by slate grey crown and nape, and pinkish face and underparts. Female with greyish green upperparts and whitish underparts. A long-tailed finch with peaked head. Appears more elegant in flight than other finches. Tripping gait when on ground.

Sound:

Song a falling 5 sec. phrase "zitt-zitt-chep-chepp-chu-chu-churrurrwitt". Structurally similar to Willow Warbler, but with a conclusive, ascending and accented ending, and with a much harder, finch-like, timbre.

Song:

Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC