Appearance:

Large and stocky wader, more recalling a grouse than a snipe when flushed from undergrowth. More often seen in display flight than on ground. Crown crossed with diagnostic broad bars, unlike any snipe. Base of tail warm, rufous brown. Wings rounded and broad. Flies with bill pointed downwards in an angle. Usually lands quickly after being flushed with characteristic abrupt and sudden drop into undergrowth.

Sound:

Sometimes give a snipe-like hoarse "raaat" when flushed. Male display flight at night distinctive. Flies above treetops while calling with 3-5 deep croaking grunts, followed by an explosive high-pitched sneeze, "psst".

Display flight:

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

Appearance:

Clearly smaller than Wood Pigeon, and lacks white wing-patches. Most susceptible to confusion with Feral Pigeon. Differs from latter in incomplete dark wing-bars, covering only inner secondary coverts. Colour of back same grey tone as neck and head. Never with white patch at lower back. Underside of wings grey, with clearly defined dark frame. Black trailing edge of tail fairly broad.

Sound:

Song a two-syllable, cooing. Much louder and more accentuated first syllable than in Feral Pigeon. First a short ascending "oooh", immediately followed by a short descending "oohh". Tone quite pure, mostly lacking the rolling quality of Feral Pigeon.

Song:

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