Appearance:

Largely unmistakable. All black, with white frontal shield and pale bill. Very stocky build. Lacks the white lateral stripe and white under tail-coverts of Moorhen. White trailing edge of wings visible in flight. Juveniles paler and more grey than adults, often with whitish front and neck. Under tail-coverts are dark, unlike juvenile Moorhen.

Sound:

Varied. Usually short, metallic and explosive. Most diagnostic call a very short, sharp and explosive "tsk". Sometimes a longer, less sharp but nasal "caw", with varying harshness.

Various calls:

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

Appearance:

Small, stocky diving duck with short bill, big triangular head and yellow eyes (dark in juveniles). Male: dark metallic green head and white patch at base of bill. Black back and tail. Neck, breast and underparts white. Female with brown head, white collar and pale underparts. White, square wing panels and dark underwing in both sexes.

Sound:

Male display sound a dry nasal disyllabic "Ka-weerr". First note introductory and second longer and descending. Usually accompanied by back-throwing head motion. Female: dry harsh "aahrrrr aahrrrr aahrrrr ". Wings make a characteristic whistling sound.

Display-call male, wing noise:

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-photo:berniedup, Licence,Link,

Sounds:Recorded by Patrik Åberg,http://www.xeno-canto.org ,CC license