Appearance:

Unmistakeable in all of WP except for Egypt where Senegal Thick-knee occurs. Differs from said species by more yellow on bill and only narrow white band on coverts framed in black (less prominent in immatures). Mostly nocturnal and easily overlooked at daytime when resting. Runs for cover with hunched posture if disturbed. Easily identified in flight by dark wing with white window, long tail and trailing toes. Betrays it's presence at dusk when groups of birds often starts calling and moving about.

Sound:

Very vocal at twilight with various wailing, curlew-like calls, undulating in crescendoes, often in joined choruses. Most typical call a cyclic "turrru-leeek", with rolling "r" and second part higher pitched (at end of sound file).

Two types of call:

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-photo:Frank.Vassen, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

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

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

CC-sound:Marco Dragonetti, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Radovan Václav, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Radovan Václav, Licence,Link.