Syrian Woodpecker (Dendrocopos syriacus)
Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius)
Similar to Great Spottet Woodpecker, D. major in all plumages, but can be separated by the following fieldmarks: Moustache stripe does not connect to the black neck like in D. major, but this is often difficult to observe. Note also that young D. major may have similar (but smaller) gap. Tail almost black with just small white spots at edges of base (bold black and white edges in D. major). Nostril coverts white. Vent more pinkish than red, while red neck patch of male reaches further towards the crown. Immature birds may recall Middle Spotted Woodpecker, but note black border between crown and cheeks and long, powerful bill (like Great Spotted). Chest of immature often with pink wash.
Sound:Contact call similar to D. major, but softer and not unlike alarm call of Redshank. Drumming also similar to D. major but longer (especially in males) and with marked lowering of volume at the end (diminuendo).
Contact call:
Distribution:
Xeno-canto: map
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CCDiffers from Ringed Plover by bright yellow eyering (adults),only faint wing-bars, long tertials (covering the primaries) and slimmer more elongated body shape. Apart from the diagnostic eyering, adults show white band across crown, brown-grey legs (not orange) and dark bill. Juveniles also show only faint wing-bars, supercilium is faint, especially behind the eye, lower part of "mask" is pointed and bill is slimmer.
Sound:Quite different from Ringed Plover. Sharper sounding, lacking Ringed's soft tone. Often starts with a rolling "r". Common calls are a two syllable "krrll-uuit" with a rising pitch or just a sharp, rolling "krrri-krrri". Also a longer rolling "krree-looo" with pitch rising in first syllable and falling in the second.
Contact, and alarm calls:
Distribution:
Xeno-canto: map
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CCSounds:Recorded by Lauri Hallikainen,http://www.xeno-canto.org ,CC license