Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio)
Yellow-billed Loon (Gavia adamsii)
Largest rail in VP. Clearly bigger than coot, and almost twice the size of Moorhen. Generally unmistakable with its dark, violet blue plumage, long, robust legs and heavy bill. Under tail coverts white. Red frontal shield and bill, pinkish red legs. Immature birds with duller coloured legs, duller plumage and faintly greyish/whitish underparts. Trailing legs obvious in flight. Swims readily.
Sound:Rich repertiore and very vocal. Sounds range from soft, mewing and laughing to hard, extremely shrill trills. Generally louder, and shriller than congeners. Often merges into, or starts with diagnostic, extremely hard trill "krrrrriiit".
Contact calls:
Distribution:
Xeno-canto: map
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CCLarge 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
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CCCC-photo:Seabamirum, Licence,Link.
CC-photo:Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, Licence,Link.