Species:

Black Grouse (Lyrurus tetrix)

Merlin (Falco columbarius)

Change species:
Main Images:
Next species:
Length (cm):
40-55
25-30
Wingspan (cm):
65-80
50-62
Weight (gram):
750-1450
125-300
Size group:
Bigger than a crow
Thrush-size
Main Texts:
Appearance:

Male differs from Capercaillie in smaller size, stockier build, curled outer tail-feathers and pure white under tail-coverts. Both sexes with white wing bars. Female more evenly speckled than Capercaillie, lacking brick coloured patches on breast an neck. Much less noisy when flushed than Capercaillie.

Sound:

Song: a far reaching, continuous, bubbly cooing, occasionally interrupted by a hissing "chooo-eee". Female calls with a nasal "go-go-go-gooo", ending on a falling drawn-out note.

Song:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


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-sound:Terje Kolaas, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

Smallest falcon. Male with slate grey upperparts, and pinkish buff, speckled underparts . Female dark brown above and heavily speckled below. Due to the extensive markings, the underparts give a darker impression than in Kestrel. Tail of female with dark broad bands, tail of male with broad black terminal band. Diffuse facial markings. Short wings. Silhouette similar to Peregrine, but the much faster wing beats are diagnostic. Acrobatic flight with sharp twist and turns when chasing prey. Alternating glides and bursts of wing-beats gives undulating flight.

Sound:

Series of harsh "kwik-wik wik". Coarseness similar to Peregrine, but pace much quicker. Female call harsher than male. Lacking the clearer tones and attack of Kestrel.

Alarm call:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


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-sound:Thijs Fijen, Licence,Link.

Similar species (image):
Similar species (sound):
Silhouette Group:
Grouse-like
Silhouette
Raptors
Silhouette
Several different images of the species
ImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImage
ImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImage
Several different sounds of the species
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file