Appearance:

At a distance quite similar to Razorbill. Bill more slender, pointed and without white markings. Flanks streaked in black, and armpits with conspicuous black spot. Tail shorter than Razorbill. Cheeks white in winter, with thin black groove behind eye. Some individuals show white eye-ring and eye-groove in summer plumage. Differs from Brunnich's Guillemot in rounded, white wedge protruding from chest to throat, and all dark bill. Slender neck, head and bill, in combination with the short tail, gives it a different profile than Razorbill whether perched, swimming or flying.

Sound:

Very coarse and deep voice. Typically rising in pitch, then ending on a prolonged stable note with a laughing quality. Sometimes only the coarse beginning uttered like "ga-ga-ga".

Contact call:

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

CC-sounds:www.xeno-canto.org,david m,http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/

Appearance:

Slightly smaller than Golden Plover with much slender appearance. Only likely to be confused with other pratincoles, but diagnostic field marks often difficult to see. Differs from Black-winged Pratincole by rufous underwing and narrow, white trailing edge to upperwing (both characters requires good light). Tail streamers longer than wing-tips and base of bill with more red (in breeding plumage). Sexes alike. Lacks black necklace in winter plumage. Immature birds are similar to winter-plumaged adults, but with additional scaly upperparts. Often confusing at first glance when in flight, due to tern-like, acrobatic flight not resembling other waders.

Sound:

Quite vocal. Nasal tern-like, far-carrying calls often betrays its presence before it is seen. Short and sharp "kiev" or "kip" frequently used. Most diagnostic call is a two-part, rolling "kivik-kirrrrrrr", with the latter part slightly descending. Easily confused with Black-winged Pratincole, but the hard parts are more resonant, and less clicking and staccato, while the more melodic components are less mewing. Also quite similar to Little Tern in timbre, but the two-part structure in the diagnostic call is different.

Various calls:

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:Étienne Leroy, Licence,Link.