Appearance:

Unmistakalble where there is no overlap with Snow Bunting (almost always). Anonymous brown bird with white wing patch when seen foraging on ground. Views in flight are dominated by the white on wings and tail. Fairly long-tailed and passer-like. Distinguishable from Snow Bunting in all plumages by the combination of grey head and brown back. Bill dark in breeding season, and yellowish in winter. Female similar to male but slightly duller coloured. Does not perch in trees. Erect posture and frequent tail-flicking when foraging on the ground. Flight less loose than Snow Bunting, with more frequent glides on stiff wings.

Sound:

Rich repertoire. Song a staccato, variable phrase, consisting of short burst of sharp chattering in uneven tempo. The timbre is ringing, rich in harmonics and partly rolling. Among the various contact call the commonest are a high-pitched, sharp "zeet", a deeper, Brambling-like "veet, or a sparrow-like "peea". Alarm call a rolling "trr-r-r-rt", resembling Crested Tit.

Alarm, contact call, song:

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

Photo by Paul Cools. CC-license

CC-Photo:Frank Delbecque, Licence,Link.

CC-Photo:Steven Wytema, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

Very deep and heavy, conical bill. Large head and bull-neck, gives the bird a front-heavy appearance, especially in flight. The short tail adds to the impression. Wings with broad, white bars and tail with white terminal band. Bill grey in breeding plumage, and yellowish in winter. Largely unmistakable, but easily overlooked when hiding high in foliage. Often flies high, even for short distances. Flight heavily undulated.

Sound:

Most typical call a sharp and explosive "tzek", with abrupt, emphasized, cut-off ending. Quite similar to Robin, but harder, with each syllable marginally longer with a slightly wheezing timbre. Repetitions are slower and more singular than Robin. Diagnostic when interspersed with high frequency notes.

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

Featherbase

CC