Species:

Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)

Hobby (Falco subbuteo)

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Length (cm):
16-17
30-36
Wingspan (cm):
32-38
82-92
Weight (gram):
28-50
131-340
Size group:
Sparrow-size
Crow-size
Main Texts:
Appearance:

Easily recognized bunting with highly contrasting plumage. Tail with black center, boldly framed by white edges and white rump in all plumages. Males with white wings with black hand. Adult females with most inner parts of wings white, juveniles with white wing-bars only. A flock usually has a few adult males which gives away the species with their flashing white wings. Summer plumage of male white with black back, bill and legs. Female less pure white, with buffish head and cheeks. Juveniles mostly grey. Though most of adults white on wing is missing, the tail-pattern is diagnostic in flight also in young birds. In winter plumage the black parts of the plumage turn more brown and buff in both sexes.

Sound:

Contact call a short, melodic and rapidly descending "peeuu". Often alternating with a rattling "trrreet". "Peeuu"-call quite similar to Lapland Bunting, but harder, purer in tone and less nasal. Song simple and melodic. 2-5 syllable motifs with fairly wide tonal range. Can be confused with Lapland Bunting, but is much purer in tone with a less jingling timbre. Local dialects.

Song:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


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 and very elegant falcon, with white throat and rufous thighs (adults). Long, narrow wings and medium long tail. Dark grey above and heavily streaked below. Head dark, with marked facial pattern resembling Peregrine. Tail often looks slightly wedge-shaped. Impressive speed of flight, with acrobatic skills when hunting. Often hunts flying birds high in the air. Slower flight action when hunting insects. Will glide, but seldom hovers (as opposed to Red-footed Falcon). Perched birds shows wing-tips reaching end of tail.

Sound:

Varied, but not very vocal. Calls when courting and at breeding ground. Most common sound a high-pitched "tew-tew-tew". Similar to Wryneck, but less pleading. Also a sneezing "ktcho".

Call:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


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-photo:markkilner, Licence,Link,

Sounds:Recorded by Harry Lehte,http://www.xeno-canto.org ,CC license

Similar species (image):
Silhouette Group:
Sparrow-like
Silhouette
Raptors
Silhouette
Several different images of the species
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Several different sounds of the species
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file