Appearance:

Only small wader in the region with a dark or spotted belly. Most common small wader in area, and an important reference species when identifying congeners. Bill quite long with slightly curved tip. Legs dark. Summer plumage with unmistakable large black patch on belly, and variable warm, rufous brown back. Juveniles and moulting adults usually shows at least some diagnostic dark spots on belly in contrast to white flanks. White V-shaped markings on back, but not as striking as in juvenile Little Stint. Only adults in winter plumage shows completely white underparts (and uniformly grey back).

Sound:

Contact call a diagnostic, very nasal "trrreeet" . Given throughout the year and in many situations, including when being flushed. Song: A drawn out, nasal "tweeet", and ringing variations on the contact call in decrescendo. Low chattering heard from feeding birds.

Song:

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:Frank Lambert, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

Bulky raptor with long tail and short, rounded wings. Small males may be difficult to separate from large Sparrowhawk females. Upperparts grey-brown, and underparts pale and barred or speckled. Male and female quite similar, but female larger. Juveniles browner than adults, with heavily speckled underparts. Supercilium prominent in both sexes. Bulkier belly and broader at base of tail than Sparrowhawk. Deep chest. Longer wings and longer secondaries gives more of a S-shape to trailing edge of wings. Slightly rounded tail-corners visible when soaring. Flight alternates series of wingbeats with short glides without loosing height.

Sound:

Series of short "ke-ke-ke-ke-ke". More resonant, both sharper and deeper pitched than similar call of Sparrowhawk, and much slower. Also a wailing "peeeaaaaw"

Alarm 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

Sounds:Recorded by Tomek Tumiel,http://www.xeno-canto.org ,CC license