Appearance:

Breeding adult easily identified by white tail/rump combined with jet black under wing coverts and silvery upper wing. Immature with brownish back contrasting with pale, silvery upper wings and pale rump. Broad white collar, and lacks dark breast patch of immature Black Tern. Adult winter most liable to confusion with other terns, but upperparts much paler than Black Tern. Contrasting dark outer primaries and secondaries to rest of wing. Often retains some black under coverts even in winter which is diagnostic if seen. Slightly more compact than Black Tern and often recalls Little gull in shape. Bill noticeably shorter and thinner than in Whiskered Tern.

Sound:

Mostly silent away from breeding ground. Most diagnostic call a dry, rolling "krrrrrr-ta-ta" where the rolling is followed by one or two accentuated syllables, or just simply "krrrrrr". Used in excitement.

Call:

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

CC

CC-sound:Marco Dragonetti, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Dick Hoek, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Lars Buckx, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

Large and bulky diver with yellow or whitish, heavy bill and square head profile with steep forehead. Usually holds bill uptilted, not pointed straight like Great Northern Diver. Summer: White underparts and chequered black back. Black head and neck with white horizontal band. Winter: White underparts and grey back. Neck usually much more diffusely marked than in Great Northern Diver. Heavy goose-like flight.

Sound:

Song similar to Great Northern Diver, but slower and harsher. Not very vocal.

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:Seabamirum, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, Licence,Link.

CC-sound:Andrew Spencer, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:jerryoldenettel, Licence,Link.