Appearance:

Unmistakable in breeding plumage, but otherwise easily confused with other marsh terns. Breeding plumage with black head and belly, but pale underwing and grey rump. When in immature and winter plumage it differs from Common and Arctic tern by smaller size and short, moderately forked tail, and from other marsh terns by slimmer body and wings (compared to White-winged tern), and relatively long, thin bill. Both immature and adult winter show dark front edge of wing, and characteristic dark shoulder patch at wing base. Back is dark in immature birds. Grey rump in all plumages. Flight usually different from Sterna-terns, with erratic dives for no apparent reason, and "aimless" change of direction. Note that when foraging over saltwater, flight becomes more Sterna-like.

Sound:

Moderately vocal. Flight call a more or less clear "kleck, or a disyllabic "klee-ake" with accented first syllable. Sometimes slightly rolling "klirr-eke", but never as much as in White-winged Tern. Also a slightly harsher "kreek", but not as raspy as in Whiskered Tern.

Flight call:

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:Ad Postma, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

Small and compact grebe. May be confused with Red-necked Grebe or Black-necked Grebe. In all plumages; short bill and flat crown. Thicker neck than Black-necked Grebe and lacks steep forehead. Dark bill with pale tip, often surprisingly visible. Summer; chestnut neck, black head and golden crests. Sexes alike, but male slightly brighter coloured. Winter; black upperparts and white underparts (differs from Little Grebe). Pure white cheeks in adults (grey in Red-necked Grebe). Juveniles may show faintly streaked cheeks, but still giving a white impression.

Sound:

Varied. Vibrating, wailing, dry and cackling sequences. A mewing, falling and far-reaching "kiaa" and various rattling sounds.

Display:

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

Sounds:Recorded by Patrick Åberg,http://www.xeno-canto.org ,CC license