Alpine Swift (Tachymarptis melba)
Curlew (Numenius arquata)
Only swift in the region with white underparts divided by breastband. Upperparts brown. Distinctly bigger than Swift, with robust build and powerful flight. Tail short with rather shallow fork. Wing-action slower than Swift, with each beat discernible. May give Hobby-like impression at a distance .
Sound:Seldom heard except in breeding season. Call a long, hard, trilling note, reminiscent of Temminck's Stint . Also a short, cut-off pju pju pju used as alarm call.
Contact call:
Distribution:
Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CCBiggest wader in area. Differs from Whimbrel in longer bill with a more even curve, only diffuse head markings without crown stripes or marked eye-stripe. Note that young Curlews have much shorter bill than adults. Base of bill pinkish. Plumage gives a paler impression than Whimbrel, with paler underwings and flanks.
Sound:Song starts similar to Whimbrel, with long wailing notes "kluuueee", but takes on a different ending as it accelerates to an ascending phrase repeated in rapid cycles .
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