Appearance:

Relatively characterless plumage. Differs from Linnet in warmer, yellowish base colour, yellow bill (grey in breeding plumage), bolder wing-bars and coarsely streaked back. Male with pinkish rump. Told from Redpoll by white base of primaries (like Linnet), and missing red and black head markings. Slightly longer tail and shorter bill than Linnet.

Sound:

Contact call a short "chep" given in series, similar to Brambling, Redpoll and Linnet. Easiest identified by other distinct call given both in flight and on ground; a peculiar, nasal and twangy "twite", from which the species name originates. Each "twite" gives the impression of the pitch being "out of control", like cartoon-like sound-effects. Song a rapid alternation of trills and nasal "twites", given in an even tempo with phrases of variable length. Lacks Linnet's frequent inclusion of "gig-gig" sounds.

Song:

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:Terje Kolaas, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

Largely unmistakable. Huge, almost all white, bird with black flight feathers, long red legs and bill. Juveniles with dark bill tip and pale legs. Easily told from Black Stork in flight by all white underparts, including wing coverts. Only flight feathers black. Wing pattern similar to White Pelican and Egyptian Vulture. Often soars high in flocks like raptors.

Sound:

Mostly silent. Loud, modulated bill-clattering from both sexes is heard during courtship/display.

Display 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:Tomas Belka, Licence,Link.