Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus)
Siberian Jay (Perisoreus infaustus)
Long-legged and compact plover with short rear-end and thin, black bill. Breast-band (or rather breast patches) usually incomplete and broken, and narrow. Leaves an overall pale impression compared to congeners. The white forehead in adults reaches all the way to the bill. Breeding male with rufous neck patch, distinct black facial markings and black breast-band. Female more diffusely coloured in brown, with slightly darker breast-band. Immature even duller. Tal shorter than Ringed Plover with substantially more white on edges. Legs darker than congeners (blackish when breeding), but may be greenish in immature birds. Can be identified by profile alone with some experience, by combination of long legs, short and compact body and flat forehead. Lifts legs well clear of ground when running, giving it's rapid gait a bicycling feel.
Sound:Contact calls more frequently heard than song, with two distinct calls. A short and soft ascending whistle resembling chiff-chaff is often heard from the ground, and a hard and rolling "prrrrt" if flushed (or just a short "tip"). Song a hard and rolling sequence resembling Dunlin song, but less nasal and more pulsating.
Song:
Distribution:
Xeno-canto: map
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CCPretty unmistakable. Dark brown to grey plumage, with conspicuous rusty patches on wings and tail. Noticeably smaller and slimmer than Jay. Seems all brown when perched, but rusty wings and tail immediately apparent when flying. Flight undulated and several birds are usually following eachother. A social, and very little shy bird.
Sound:Rich repertoire but not very vocal. Song a subdued chirping stream of squeaky notes and mimicry. Alarm call a loud, mewing, buzzard-like "eeeeaaah".
Song:
Distribution:
Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CC