Appearance:

Fairly small shearwater with jet black upperparts, and pure white underparts. Armpits often with dark markings. White notch behind wing base. Distinguished from Yelkouan and Balearic Shearwater by the always pure white vent. Faint, white wedge behind ear coverts. Legs do not protrude behind the tail. Flight typical of family: Rapid, shallow and stiff wing-beats, with alternating glides. Sometimes with only the primaries moving.

Sound:

Vocal at breeding ground. The call is sharp and wailing, and consist of two parts. A drawn, "inhalation", is immediately followed by a trisyllabic "ka-ya-ya".

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:david m, Licence,Link.

CC-photos:Jean-Pierre R., Licence,Link.

Appearance:

Differs from Arctic Tern in longer head, and more orangy red, rather than deep red, bill. Tip of bill usually black. Legs longer, but tail streamers shorter than AT. Underparts of primaries with diffusely bordered dark trailing edge (sharply bordered in Arctic Tern). Upper side of primaries with dark wedge (less apparent in winter). Secondaries opaque. Crest more apparent than in Arctic Tern and underside whiter. Juveniles with buff back.

Sound:

Similar to Arctic Tern but deeper. Lacks latter's high pitched "tip-tip-tip" call, and the drawn out "kree-aaahh" call falls more distinctly in pitch.

Call:

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-sound:Eetu Paljakka, Licence,Link.