Greater Spotted Eagle (Clanga clanga)
Broad-billed Sandpiper (Calidris falcinellus)
Medium sized eagle with long, evenly broad wings and relatively short tail. Easily confused with Lesser Spotted Eagle, Clanga pomarina. Flight feathers usually paler than the dark coverts, and head and body same colour as wings. Only diffuse pale patch at base of primaries on upper wing (marked in C. pomarina). Pale base of primaries shows as "comma", but usually lacks pale base of under primary coverts, contrary to C. pomarina. Broader wings than C. pomarina, and the squarish wing-shape, short neck and tail recalls White-tailed Eagle (H. albicilla). U-shaped white patch at base of tail. Immature birds even darker than adults, and show white spots along upper wing coverts in two narrow bands. Very long "fingers" overall, and elongated 7th primary. Soars and glides on horizontal wings with drooping hand (as C. pomarina). Bill obviously heavier than C. pomarina, and yellow base and gular region stands out. Round nostrils.
Sound:Vocal at breeding ground, and when courting. Short, barking, high-pitched whistles, not unlike a small dog. Slightly lower pitched than C. pomarina and with a fuller tone, but very similar.
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:David Farrow, Licence,Link.
CC-photo:Ronald Bontrop, Licence,Link.
CC-photo:Paul Schrijvershof, Licence,Link.
CC-photo:CharlesLam, Licence,Link.
Can be mistaken for a Dunlin but differs in characteristic double supercilium, unmarked belly and shorter legs. Bill is thicker, almost swollen at base, and more distinctly bent at tip. Overall impression much more contrasty than Dunlin. Winter plumage with dark centres of tertials, and finely striped crown. Juveniles with white V-shaped markings on back, similar to Little Stint. Wing bars and tail markings resembles Dunlin in flight. Moves relatively slow when feeding.
Sound:Distinct contact call. A trilling "drrroiiit" with a peculiar timbre, ending with a rapid rise of pitch. Song often preceded by the contact call, which then fuses into a continuous vibrating trill.
Song:
Distribution:
Xeno-canto: map
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CC