Brant Goose (Branta bernicla)
Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea)
A small, dark goose. Thin white collar on adults, juveniles with all black neck. Seems all black from a distance, except for the white vent. Easily told from Barnacle Goose by the lack of contrast between neck and belly, even at long distance. Subspecies hrota, bernicla and nigricans can be distinguished by plumage characters. B.b.hrota: Brownish rather than dark grey belly, and pale between legs. B.b.bernicla: Grey part of belly also reaching behind and between legs. B.b.nigricans: Almost black belly. "Necklace" more distinct, reaching to the front of neck.
Sound:A bubbling, trembling, ascending, three syllable "ahrahrrhit", quite different from other geese.
Contact call:
Distribution:
Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CCSounds:Recorded by Jens kirkeby,http://www.xeno-canto.org ,CC license
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:
Distribution:
Xeno-canto: map
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CC