Appearance:

Hard to distinguish from Guillemot, especially at a distance. Bill heavier, shorter, less pointed and with lateral white stripe at base (not obvious at a distance). Flanks lacks Guillemot's streaking, and armpits are white. Upperparts blacker, without brownish tones. Tail shorter than razorbill, with protruding feet in flight. Only lower cheeks white in winter, with the area behind the eye being black (white in both Guillemot and Razorbill). Pointed (not rounded) white wedge protruding from front of chest to lower throat. Neck, head and bill, heavier than in Guillemot, but more slender than Razorbill. Bill often tilted downwards in flight.

Sound:

Coarse and deep voice, like a cross between Guillemot and Razorbill. Coarser than Guillemot but with the same laughing ending, but slower.

Contact 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

CC

CC-sounds:,www.xeno-canto.org,Andrew Spencer,http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/

Appearance:

Largest marsh tern. Liable to confusion with Sterna terns due to black cap, in addition to other marsh terns. All marsh terns (Chlidonias) differs from Sterna by lack of tail streamers, short tail with shallow fork, shorter wings and stiffer flight. Marsh terns don't plunge-dive for food but picks from surface (though Whiskered Tern may belly-plunge), mostly in fresh water. Adult Whiskered Tern easily told from other marsh terns by distinct black cap contrasting to white cheeks and throat. Underwing pale with diffuse dark trailing edge. Belly distinctly darker than Common- and Arctic Tern, but beware of variation in both species. Bill dark blood red. Adult winter: Very pale with no distinct markings except for ill-defined black mask stretching from eye to eye across nape. Forehead white and with crown white speckles. Bill black. Immature: Yellowish brown saddle with coarse dark pattern, though these are moulted in early autumn. Usually lacks dark carpal bar and cap ill-defined. Whiskered Tern generally stockier built than other marsh terns. Both immatures and adult winter show grey rump (different from Common, Arctic and White-Winged), and bill is dagger-shaped (most apparent in males).

Sound:

Contact call freely used and fairly distinct: An extremely hoarse, and rasping "krreek" in various moods. Timbre comparable to Corncrake. Sometimes uttered in stuttering series "kr-kr-kr-kr-kr".

Contact 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

Featherbase

CC

CC-sound:Patrik Åberg, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Jurrien van Deijk, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Geert Moris, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Michel Kapoen, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Ria Vogels, Licence,Link.