Appearance:

Small and dark grebe, with squarish head and thin, uptilted bill. Adult breeding plumage distinct, with unique combination of black head and neck, and a spray of golden, fan-like feathers from eye to nape. Winter plumage birds are easily confused with Slavonian Grebe, but note dark, rear cheek-patch, and darker collar. Head profile distinct, with its steep forehead. In winter plumage highest point is above the eye, as opposed to nape in Slavonian. Much more contrasting plumage than Little Grebe. Avoids to take wing if possible.

Sound:

Territorial song a disyllabic, flute-like "zoeeee-chk". First part drawn, ascending and plaintive, second part descending and clipping. Timbre is unpure. Other calls include chittering and trilling calls resembling Slavonian or Little Grebe.

Song:

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-photo:Agustín Povedano, Licence,Link.

CC-sound:Patrik Åberg, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

A large shearwater with pale upperparts and heavy, yellowish bill. Large grey head. The grey neck forms a diagnostic, contrasting line from wing base to base of bill (most other shearwaters have white neck-sides). Armpits usually pure white. Underside of wings white, framed by black flight feathers. Flight action calm and distinct. Long glides alternates with 3-4 slow wingbeats. Wingtips always bent downwards, and wings slightly angled back. Often soars. Differs from Fulmar in dark tail, grey head, long, narrow wings and longer bill. The two subspecies C. diomedea and C. borealis, are somtimes treated as different species. Field identification of these usually impossible, and requires ideal conditions. Hand of borealis is darker due to no white fringes to primaries. In diomedea the white in the coverts extends in a white wedge into the hand, through the base of the primaries.

Sound:

Very vocal at breeding ground. Calls with a very nasal, comical, mewing "ke-kooeee", ending with falling pitch, like a releasing sigh or moan. Sometimes reltively pure, other times very hoarse and raucous.

At breeding ground (C. d. borealis):

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:James Bradley, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Hans Verdaat, Licence,Link.