Appearance:

Resembles a big, black Curlew, but can only be confused with Bald Ibis. Differs from this by longer, slender neck, rounded and feathered head, long legs (trailing in flight) and heavier bill. Bare parts greyish, not red. Adults with glossy green wings. Immatures and birds in winter plumage with white-speckled head and neck. Head and legs droops slightly below horizontal plane in flight, leaving a "hunched" impression. Wing beats faster than herons of same size. May glide longer distances, but does not soar like Bald Ibis. Flight formation loose, diagonal or in single file with undulating movements.

Sound:

Generally silent away from breeding ground. Dry, crow-like "garr garr", may be heard occasionally in flight. At breeding ground various guttural grunts, and piping, hissing sounds.

Flightcall:

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:Stanislas Wroza, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

Occurs in dark and pale morph. Plumage recalling gulls more than shearwaters (especially pale morph). Differs from shearwaters in white or pale head, compact body, short and heavy bill and broad wings. Flight pattern distinguishes it from gulls, and is similar to other tubenoses. Glides on stiff wings with occasional bursts of shallow and stiff wing-beats. Pale base of primaries visible at considerable distance in both dark and pale morph. Dark morph most common in high-arctic areas, pale morph most common in southern breeding range.

Sound:

Mostly heard on breeding ground. Coarse, harsh, staccato calls when courting or quarrelling.

Social interaction:

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

Sounds:Recorded by Stein Ø. Nilsen,http://www.xeno-canto.org ,CC license