Species:

Roller (Coracias garrulus)

Grey-headed Woodpecker (Picus canus)

Change species:
Main Images:
Next species:
Length (cm):
30-32
25-26
Wingspan (cm):
66-73
38-40
Weight (gram):
120-160
120-160
Size group:
Crow-size
Thrush-size
Main Texts:
Appearance:

Unmistakable if seen well. Corvoid-like at a distance, and may be mistaken for Jay if no plumage characters are visible. Tail is however quite a bit shorter, and wings slightly longer. Flight-feathers dark, contrasting with turquois coverts, both below and above. Underparts especially striking in flight, being pale blue (sometimes seemingly white) all over, except dark flight-feathers and base of tail. Bill heavy. Immature duller than adults with faint streaked breast and slightly rufous coverts. Wing-beats deep and regular. Flies mostly in a straight line. Migrating birds move in characteristic procession-like formations.

Sound:

Various dry rasping, sometimes mewing, sounds and short clicks: "ahrahrahrahrahrahrahr" or pulse of clicks: "trrrtrrrrtrr". Also a clearer raptor- or jay-like descending "piiuu".

Display calls:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


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:Jarek Matusiak, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

Green back. Head mostly grey with only a slim black moustache stripe, and underparts rather greyish too. Smaller than Green Woodpecker, and bill less heavy. Male with small red patch on forehead. Flight and movements more agile than Green Woodpecker.

Sound:

Mostly heard during the breeding season. Song similar to Green Woodpecker, but general tone is soft and melancholic. Phrases consists of series of 5-8 clear notes falling both in pitch and intensity, and with diagnostic ritardando at the end. Short "kek" uttered if excited. Rarely drums.

Song:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


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

Similar species (image):
Similar species (sound):
Silhouette Group:
Crow-like
Silhouette
Tree-clinging
Silhouette
Several different images of the species
ImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImage
ImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImage
Several different sounds of the species
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file