Appearance:

May be confused with Ruddy Shelduck, but differs in long, pinkish legs, pink bill, long neck, greyish underparts and striking, brown mask. Conspicuous black and white wing pattern similar to Ruddy Shelduck, but crossed with a thin, black stripe. Sexes similar. Immature duller and without facial mask, and thus closer to RS in appearance. Spends much time foraging while walking, but may also dive. Flight heavy and goose-like.

Sound:

Quite vocal when interacting. Female calls may resemble RS, but are coarser, harder and trills are more rolling. Single calls are longer, and falls markedly in pitch. Male calls quite different, with husky, wheezing or hissing "kaahhh", or with the same timbre in series lika a steam engine.

Male:

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-photo:berniedup, Licence,Link.

CC-sound:Lars Lachmann, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Björn S..., Licence,Link.

Appearance:

Largely unmistakable. Male almost pure white with black dots. Female and juveniles white with heavy black barring, and may seem grey at a distance. Juveniles more finely barred than adult females, giving them a greyer appearance, with white neck and face. Body barrel-shaped, head small and rounded. Wing-tips more pointed than in other owls. Flight action both buzzard and owl-like, with surprising agility. Note that several species of owls may seem completely white to the untrained eye when suddenly appearing in car headlights etc.

Sound:

Song consists of single utterances or series of "aooo", recalling Great Black-backed Gull, and is far carrying. Male warning call a deep and harsh "groat grat grat", with accented endings of each syllable. Female warning call higher pitched. Also various other high pitched calls.

Alarm 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:Niels Krabbe, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:ahisgett, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Frank.Vassen, Licence,Link.