Appearance:

Unmistakalble where there is no overlap with Snow Bunting (almost always). Anonymous brown bird with white wing patch when seen foraging on ground. Views in flight are dominated by the white on wings and tail. Fairly long-tailed and passer-like. Distinguishable from Snow Bunting in all plumages by the combination of grey head and brown back. Bill dark in breeding season, and yellowish in winter. Female similar to male but slightly duller coloured. Does not perch in trees. Erect posture and frequent tail-flicking when foraging on the ground. Flight less loose than Snow Bunting, with more frequent glides on stiff wings.

Sound:

Rich repertoire. Song a staccato, variable phrase, consisting of short burst of sharp chattering in uneven tempo. The timbre is ringing, rich in harmonics and partly rolling. Among the various contact call the commonest are a high-pitched, sharp "zeet", a deeper, Brambling-like "veet, or a sparrow-like "peea". Alarm call a rolling "trr-r-r-rt", resembling Crested Tit.

Alarm, contact call, song:

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

Photo by Paul Cools. CC-license

CC-Photo:Frank Delbecque, Licence,Link.

CC-Photo:Steven Wytema, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

Largest flycatcher in covered area. Easily overlooked bird with greyish brown upperparts and pale underparts. Crown and chest speckled. Bill and legs black. Slim white fringes to flight feathers and greater coverts. Body, wings and bill longer than in Pied Flycatcher, leaving a more elongated impression. Erect posture. Behaviour similar to congeners, with rapid darts and frequent hovering when hunting insects. Flicks tail and wings while perched.

Sound:

The discreet calls often goes unnoticed. Most calls high pitched with a buzzing, "electric" timbre. Alarm call a sharp, drawn "tzreeeee-check", with the second syllable abruptly clipping the sound. Song a primitive, slow series of various buzzing and very high pitched sounds. No recurring phrases.

Song:

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