Appearance:

Hard to distinguish from Guillemot, especially at a distance. Bill heavier, shorter, less pointed and with lateral white stripe at base (not obvious at a distance). Flanks lacks Guillemot's streaking, and armpits are white. Upperparts blacker, without brownish tones. Tail shorter than razorbill, with protruding feet in flight. Only lower cheeks white in winter, with the area behind the eye being black (white in both Guillemot and Razorbill). Pointed (not rounded) white wedge protruding from front of chest to lower throat. Neck, head and bill, heavier than in Guillemot, but more slender than Razorbill. Bill often tilted downwards in flight.

Sound:

Coarse and deep voice, like a cross between Guillemot and Razorbill. Coarser than Guillemot but with the same laughing ending, but slower.

Contact 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

CC

CC-sounds:,www.xeno-canto.org,Andrew Spencer,http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/

Appearance:

A medium sized, long-winged raptor, with deeply forked tail. Adults with warm brown underparts and typical whitish "window" contrasting with black wing tips. Tail rufous above. Easily confused with Black Kite, but this has shallower forked tail and gives a darker brown impression. Note that birds gliding with tail fanned may give impression of less forked tail. Flight elegant, with frequent and typical tail twisting to maintain position in the air.

Sound:

Mainly heard in breeding season. A piercing long whistle, quickly ascending, then descending "piuuu". Often used in movies to give an eerie wildlife mood. Differs from Black Kite in being a clear whistle all the way through the call, without "shivering". Higher pitched than Buzzard, and with less pause between calls.

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:Jens Kirkeby, Licence,Link.