Species:

Black-throated Loon (Gavia arctica)

Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)

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Length (cm):
58-73
34-37
Wingspan (cm):
110-130
86-99
Weight (gram):
1316-3400
200-400
Size group:
Bigger than a crow
Crow-size
Main Texts:
Appearance:

Summer: Black throat framed in fine white stripes at the sides, and a chequered black back. Winter: More contrast between dark and white parts than in Red-Throated Diver. Marked transition between dark neck and white front, and the dark grey crown extends below the eye. In all plumages: Heavier neck and bill than Red-Throated, and bill usually held straight. Visibly protruding chest when swimming. Head shape sometimes squarish. Usually shows big white flank patch.

Sound:

Song: a strong, very resonant, full bodied, low whistling with most syllables rising in pitch: "co clooo-eee, co clooo-eee, co clooo-eee". Also a short grunting "karr".

Song:

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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

Appearance:

Chocolate-brown hood in adult plumage (seemingly black at a distance), but head only with dark markings in winter and juvenile plumages. Underparts of inner primaries dark grey. First few primaries white with black tip, both on upper side of wing and under. Last character conspicuous in all plumages, but slightly less obvious in juveniles due to larger dark area of wing-tip. Slender-billed Gull and Bonaparte's Gull show similar white first primaries, but differs in long and slender head profile and white underparts of hand respectively.

Sound:

Quite vocal, especially at breeding ground. Distinct, harsh calls. A rasping "kreearr", and shorter, sharp warning calls; "kek".

Contact call:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


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

Featherbase

CC

Similar species (image):
Similar species (sound):
Silhouette Group:
Loons/grebes
Silhouette
Gull-like
Silhouette
Several different images of the species
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Several different sounds of the species
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file