Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus)
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)
Large, long-winged vulture with slender body and long, diamond-shaped tail. Very different flight-silhouette from any other large raptor in the region. Most similar to Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), but note very long tail (longer than wings are broad) and pointed wings. Size difference not always apparent. Adult birds unmistakable when plumage characters are visible. Yellowish head with black mask and "beard". Orangy underparts, contrasting with dark back, wings and tail. Immature birds are dark all over, with pale-tipped coverts. Note that young birds have shorter tail and less pointed wings than adults. Wings held flat when soaring, sometimes with tip pointing slightly downwards.
Sound:Display call a thin whistling with several register breaks, reminiscent of Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus). A passerine-like trill is also sometimes heard, but generally not a vocal bird.
Distribution:Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CCNotably smaller than Curlew. Bill is shorter and curves more closer to the tip. Markings on head much more prominent than in Curlew, with double dark lateral crown-stripes (light stripe on top of crown) and dark eye-stripe. Note that young Curlews have noticeably shorter bill than adults! Gives an overall darker impression than Curlew, especially underwing and flanks.
Sound:Song starts similar to Curlew with long wailing notes "kluuueee", which then accelerates to a continuous, vibrating single note. Lacks the cyclic phrase ending of Curlew.
Song:
Distribution:
Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CC