Appearance:

Similar to Starling, and may be difficult to tell apart in winter and immature plumages. Most birds are in breeding plumage from March on, completely lacking spots, and with a purple (not green) sheen. Flight feathers lacks pale fringes, and the overall look is much darker than Starling. Elongated head and throat feathers are slightly longer than in Starling. Winter and immature plumage birds difficult to identify, but has small and spearhead-shaped spots, and darker wings (due to lack of pale fringes). Leg colour generally paler pink, than Starling, but some overlap occurs.

Sound:

Similar to Starling in form and variation, but the long, descending whistling notes are more dominant and accented. Sometimes uttered as trills, or "stuttered". Whistles also used as contact calls when not breeding.

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

CC-sound:Espen Quinto-Ashman, Licence,Link.

CC-Photo:Helen Commandeur, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

Like a Willow Tit with dark brown hood, brown back and warm brown flanks. Fluffy overall look, with very large dark bib. Summer plumage often looks "newly washed" and untidy. Tail slightly longer than in Willow Tit, and flight is less undulating. Not shy.

Sound:

Voice quite similar to Willow Tit. Song: Often vibrating or rasping notes repeated in Willow Tit-like structure, gradually falling in pitch "trrrrrr trrrrr trrrrr". Call: Nasal Willow Tit-like "chee chee chee" , "ti ti chee". Other sounds: Chirping, bubbling sounds resembling Willow Tit, various other high pitched sounds.

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

CC

CC-sound:Hannu Jännes, Licence,Link.