Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus)
Blyth's Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus dumetorum)
Elegant harrier, with slender wings and 4 "fingers". Adult male easily recognized by single black band on upperwing, and double on underwing, and by rufous under wing-coverts. Chest is considerably darker grey than in Pallid Harrier, in contrast to white lower belly. Adult female differs from Hen- and Pallid Harrier by dark upper wing-band (not as prominent as in male). Broad, pale subterminal band on underwing reaching all the way to wing pit. Under wing coverts barred. Immature birds told from Hen Harrier by rufous, almost unstreaked underparts. From Pallid Harrier by dark wing tips and no marked, dark neck sides or pale collar. Beware of moulting Hen Harriers, with 4 "fingers".
Sound:Quite similar to Hen Harrier. Seldom heard, even at breeding ground. Sharp "ke-ke-ke-ke", and various high-pitched whistling sounds.
Call:
Distribution:
Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CCCC-sound:Marco Dragonetti, Licence,Link.
Similar to Reed Warbler but note very short primary projection, evenly coloured wings with dull tertials. Under tail-coverts almost white, with very little buff tinge. Legs overall darker than congeners. Immature birds with slightly paler legs and warmer upperparts and fringes to flight-feathers. Leaves a slimmer impression than Reed- and Marsh W., with flatter forehead and tapering bill. Posture often Sylvia-like with frequent cocking, flicking and fanning of tail.
Sound:Contact call a short and sharp Lesser Whitethroat-like "tek", different from Mars W. Alarm call a dry, rolling "krrrreet", often with a register break splitting into high register overtones. Song recalls Marsh Warbler in timbre but is generally diagnostic. Tempo slow and deliberate, pace recalling that of Song Thrush, with marked pauses. Typical articulate, arpeggio-like whistling motifs alternated by mimicry are often repeated many times. Daytime song less typical than normal song at night, with faster pace and less repetition.
Song:
Distribution:
Xeno-canto: map
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CCSound recording:Recorded by Edmunds Racinskis