House Martin (Delichon urbicum)
Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides)
A small, compact martin with short, forked tail and pure white rump. Underparts shiny white (including throat and vent). Upperparts dark with shiny metallic glow to head and back. Juveniles overall more dull, with white tips to tertials and dusky, brownish upperparts. Flight determined and steady. Glides more than Sand Martin, with less frequent change of direction.
Sound:Contact call a rolling "krreet". Similar to Sand Martin but noticeably dryer, more rolling and less raucous. Typically varies the pitch of the call more. Song a merry improvisation of chirping, contact call-like sounds (sometimes recalling a budgerigar). Warning call a sharp and plaintive "tsreee".
Contact 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
CCAll white wingtips like Glaucous Gull. Told apart from latter by rounded head, longer wings and shorter, more slender bill. Bill shorter than half the length of head, and lacks prominent hook. Primaries extends well past tail in sitting birds, and the whole rear of the bird seem slimmer. Eye bigger than in Glaucous Gull, with a more "gentle" expression. Comparison with nearby Herring Gulls fruitful. Iceland Gull often smaller than Herring Gull, and less heavy, while Glaucous Gull usually larger. Impression reinforced by Iceland's agile maneuvering.
Sound:Like Herring Gull, but tone sharper.
Distribution:Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CC