Species:

Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea)

Guillemot (Uria aalge)

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Length (cm):
61-67
38-41
Wingspan (cm):
0-0
64-70
Weight (gram):
925-1600
490-863
Size group:
Crow-size
Crow-size
Main Texts:
Appearance:

May only be confused with Egyptian Goose, but differs in short, dark legs, dark bill, thicker neck, rufous belly and lack of eye-patch. Black and white wings conspicuous in flight as in Egyptian Goose, but lacks thin, black stripe at rear of white coverts. Sexes quite similar. Male with ringed neck in breeding plumage, and female with more contrasting facial pattern. Immature similar to female, but with "dirty" white wing-patches. Less dependent on water than most other ducks.

Sound:

Distinct voice and quite vocal. Nasal, trumpeting, donkey-like calls, often drawn out to a rattling, trill (Chewbacca of Star Wars). Male higher pitched than female.

Call/song:

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-sound:Hans Matheve, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

At a distance quite similar to Razorbill. Bill more slender, pointed and without white markings. Flanks streaked in black, and armpits with conspicuous black spot. Tail shorter than Razorbill. Cheeks white in winter, with thin black groove behind eye. Some individuals show white eye-ring and eye-groove in summer plumage. Differs from Brunnich's Guillemot in rounded, white wedge protruding from chest to throat, and all dark bill. Slender neck, head and bill, in combination with the short tail, gives it a different profile than Razorbill whether perched, swimming or flying.

Sound:

Very coarse and deep voice. Typically rising in pitch, then ending on a prolonged stable note with a laughing quality. Sometimes only the coarse beginning uttered like "ga-ga-ga".

Contact call:

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

CC-sounds:www.xeno-canto.org,david m,http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/

Similar species (image):
Similar species (sound):
Silhouette Group:
Duck-like
Silhouette
Auks/Cormorants
Silhouette
Several different images of the species
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Several different sounds of the species