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:

Large tern with black bill, with yellow tip (adults). Bill all black in juveniles. Long black cap and shaggy crest. Generally leaves a much whiter impression than other terns in the region (except Roseate Tern). Adult summer: Yellow bill-tip. Tail pure white, and upperparts pale grey. Outer primaries darker than rest of wing, and contrast increases in worn plumage. Broad white trailing edge to inner wing. Underside of primaries with faint narrow dark trailing edge. Forehead white in adult winter and first winter plumage. Juveniles: scaly upperparts and dark bill. Less evenly coloured than juvenile Gull-billed Tern. First winter birds similar to juveniles, but back purer grey and bill shorter. Can be mistaken for Gull-billed Tern, but note different profile. Flight powerful with evenly narrow wings and a front-heavy appearance, due to the long head and bill. Often dives from high above the surface and stays under water longer than Common and Arctic T.

Sound:

Contact call a sharp and grating "keeree-eek". Often compared to the pressing of amalgam into a tooth.

Contact 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-photo:Paul:Ritchie, Licence,Link.

CC-sound:Peter Boesman, Licence,Link.