Appearance:

Only eagle in WP with whitish underparts and dark hood and chest. Underparts variably barred with 2-3 tail-bands, but leaves an overall pale impression. May be confused with Osprey, but outer wing is much broader and carpal patches is absent. Dark individuals may resemble Honey Buzzards, but note 6 fingers and lack of carpal patches. Pale individuals may show pale throat and chest. Soars on flat or marginally raised wings, with hand stretched slightly forward. Tail slender with straight cut end and sharp corners.

Sound:

Quite vocal, especially at breeding ground. A wailing "keeeeaaaaaa" with marked register breaks, or a soft "pjuu-pjuu-pjuu". Male purer and more resonant than female.

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:Marco Dragonetti, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

Breeding adult easily identified by white tail/rump combined with jet black under wing coverts and silvery upper wing. Immature with brownish back contrasting with pale, silvery upper wings and pale rump. Broad white collar, and lacks dark breast patch of immature Black Tern. Adult winter most liable to confusion with other terns, but upperparts much paler than Black Tern. Contrasting dark outer primaries and secondaries to rest of wing. Often retains some black under coverts even in winter which is diagnostic if seen. Slightly more compact than Black Tern and often recalls Little gull in shape. Bill noticeably shorter and thinner than in Whiskered Tern.

Sound:

Mostly silent away from breeding ground. Most diagnostic call a dry, rolling "krrrrrr-ta-ta" where the rolling is followed by one or two accentuated syllables, or just simply "krrrrrr". Used in excitement.

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

CC

CC-sound:Marco Dragonetti, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Dick Hoek, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Lars Buckx, Licence,Link.