Appearance:

Small falcon recalling both Kestrel and Hobby at a distance, but most likely to be confused with latter. Adult male unmistakable with ashy grey plumage and rufous red "trousers". Colour of trousers not always obvious, but silvery upperwing often visible in flashes at distance. Adult female also distinct with almost unstreaked buff underparts and under wing-coverts, buff neck and crown, dark mask and white cheeks. Immature most likely to be confused with Hobby but differs in barred upper side of tail, pale forehead, white (half)collar, contrasting dark trailing edge to wing and more striking fringes to coverts. Underparts also less heavy streaked. Flight profile similar to Hobby but tail slightly longer and more rounded. Hunts insects in flight, but in contrast to Hobby, hovers frequently and with deeper wingbeats than Kestrel.

Sound:

Flight call very similar to Hobby, a wryneck-like series of "kew kew kew kew", each call falling rapidly in pitch. Sometimes given in a harsher more staccato version. Very vocal at colony with various squeaky and whimpering begging calls.

Flight call:

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:Tomas Belka, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Jan Thomas Landgren, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Paul Cools, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Paul Cools, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Jan Thomas Landgren, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

Unmistakable. Only black and white passerine of it's size in Europe. Short rounded wings and exceptionally long tail. Wings fan-shaped and tail graded. Tail constitutes about half of the total length in adult birds. Compact body but relatively long legs. Flat crown. White wing patches/flight feathers very conspicuous in flight.

Sound:

Most notable sound a harsh, chattering "chechechecheche" used as warning call, or when mobbing predators. Rich repertoire includes soft and surprisingly varied sub-song.

Alarm call:

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