Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)
Leach's Storm Petrel (Hydrobates leucorhous)
Unmistakable in most of Europe where no other nuthatch species occur. Only bird climbing head-first downwards trees. Blue-grey upperparts, white underparts and solid black eye stripe. Large head, long bill and short tail. Climbs in jerky, but nimble motion. Scandinavian birds with mostly white underparts (except for vent), continental birds with more rufous belly.
Sound:Very varied voice. Ranging from very high pitched whistles and melodic resonant calls, to chattering and nasal mocking sounds. Song a simple series of loud notes. Characteristic warning call a hard "check" or "chwit", often in rapid series, like a pebble bouncing on hollow ice.
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
CCForked and fairly long tail. Clearly bigger than Storm Petrel, with more slender appearance and longer wings. Generally not as black, and shows brownish tone to plumage. The white rump patch is oval, has a weak grey center stripe, and does not reach as far down on the sides as in Storm Petrel. Light grey upper greater coverts form a wing-band. Underside of wings all dark. Flight pattern variable, with frequent changes in direction and speed. Sometimes glides like a shearwater but at other times shows surprisingly deep wing-beats. Does not patter surface, but will rest on water. Visits breeding ground only at night, and is usually only seen after storms.
Sound:Only calls at breeding ground. A series of accentuated cooing, interrupted by a squeaky "inbreath" and a loud, absurd, fanfare-like "kaaa-ka-ka-kaaa-ka".
Calls:
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