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:

Smaller and more delicate than Crane. Front of neck and chest black, with long plumes. Immatures show only faint black markings on neck and head. Upper wing lacks pale patch close to alula, and show little contrast between secondary and primary coverts. Easily mistaken for Crane in flight if black chest is not visible. Identification by call then helpful. Wing beats significantly faster than in Crane.

Sound:

Recalls Crane but timbre very dry, almost rasping and pitch higher.

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:Oscar Campbell, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:yann coatanéa, Licence,Link.