Appearance:

Pale and dark morphs. Often difficult to distinguish from Arctic Skua. Adults with broad, spoon-shaped streamers. These are moulted twice a year, so adults lacking these are not uncommon. The dark cap reaches around the bill base and down to the chin. Breast band in pale morph is generally broader and more pronounced than in Arctic Skua, but in some males it is lacking altogether. Leaves an overall more robust and powerful impression than Arctic. Wings are broader than the distance from trailing wing-edge to tip of tail (streamers excluded), while the hand seems shorter. The light patches at the base of the primaries are more obvious, and many young birds shows a characteristic double patch, formed by additional white base of greater primary coverts (like Lesser Spotted Eagle). Rump and vent of juveniles usually boldly barred, in contrast to unbarred back and belly (visible even in dark morph). Streamers never pointed (in any plumage). Flight pattern straighter, and more determined than in Arctic Skua.

Sound:

Short "kea" or "ke", and various mewing calls, usually deeper pitched than Arctic Skua. Also a characteristic, laughing and vibrating "kayayayayaya", heard mostly on breeding ground.

Alarm/flight 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-photo:loarie, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:jerryoldenettel, Licence,Link.

Sounds:CC. http://www.xeno-canto.org .Recorded by Andrew Spencer.

Appearance:

A small, active and quick wader, sharing traits of both Tringa and Calidris type. Most easily identified in the field by it's behaviour and sound. Most distinct plumage feature is the white wedge in front of the wings at the sides of the breast. Body is elongated and legs fairly short and greenish. Constantly bobs body and head. In flight the dark rump and white wing-bars are obvious. Often flickers its wings when flying low above water, especially just before landing.

Sound:

Very vocal with characteristic repertoire of very high-pitched calls. Often heard is a disyllabic call, drawn out and slightly rising in pitch in the second part. This is often repeated in a series of rising tones in a cyclic manner, with approx 5 tones in each cycle.

Flight call, 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