Appearance:

Pale and dark morphs. Often difficult to distinguish from Arctic Skua. Adults with broad, spoon-shaped streamers. These are moulted twice a year, so adults lacking these are not uncommon. The dark cap reaches around the bill base and down to the chin. Breast band in pale morph is generally broader and more pronounced than in Arctic Skua, but in some males it is lacking altogether. Leaves an overall more robust and powerful impression than Arctic. Wings are broader than the distance from trailing wing-edge to tip of tail (streamers excluded), while the hand seems shorter. The light patches at the base of the primaries are more obvious, and many young birds shows a characteristic double patch, formed by additional white base of greater primary coverts (like Lesser Spotted Eagle). Rump and vent of juveniles usually boldly barred, in contrast to unbarred back and belly (visible even in dark morph). Streamers never pointed (in any plumage). Flight pattern straighter, and more determined than in Arctic Skua.

Sound:

Short "kea" or "ke", and various mewing calls, usually deeper pitched than Arctic Skua. Also a characteristic, laughing and vibrating "kayayayayaya", heard mostly on breeding ground.

Alarm/flight 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-photo:loarie, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:jerryoldenettel, Licence,Link.

Sounds:CC. http://www.xeno-canto.org .Recorded by Andrew Spencer.

Appearance:

Small, compact lark with finch-like bill. 30% smaller than Skylark. Primaries almost completely covered by tertiaries, as opposed to Lesser Short-toed Lark. Upperparts typical lark-like, while underparts are almost unstreaked. Most individuals shows small, black shoulder patch. Bill deep, but pointed. Base colour variable, but western birds usually warmer brown than eastern. Lacks crest. Crown is rather flat (often rufous) and head squarish. Tail black with buff centre and pure white outer feathers. Often forms finch-like flocks when not breeding. Flight moderately undulating.

Sound:

Contact call a dry, short and House Sparrow-like "chirrrp", with a high-pitched component. Shorter than Skylark, and crisper and straighter than Lesser Short-toed Lark. Song usually performed high in the air, but can also be heard from the ground. 2 types of song. Either in short phrases with a typical duration of 1-3 seconds each, with stuttering introduction, and falling cadence. Other song type more confusing and harder to identify, consisting of a continuous stream of energic improvisation. Listen for interwoven contact calls, and lack of Lesser Crested Lark calls. Frequently mimicks other species.

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