Appearance:

Similar to Great Spottet Woodpecker, D. major in all plumages, but can be separated by the following fieldmarks: Moustache stripe does not connect to the black neck like in D. major, but this is often difficult to observe. Note also that young D. major may have similar (but smaller) gap. Tail almost black with just small white spots at edges of base (bold black and white edges in D. major). Nostril coverts white. Vent more pinkish than red, while red neck patch of male reaches further towards the crown. Immature birds may recall Middle Spotted Woodpecker, but note black border between crown and cheeks and long, powerful bill (like Great Spotted). Chest of immature often with pink wash.

Sound:

Contact call similar to D. major, but softer and not unlike alarm call of Redshank. Drumming also similar to D. major but longer (especially in males) and with marked lowering of volume at the end (diminuendo).

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-sound:Jarek Matusiak, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Bart van Hoogstraten, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

Unmistakable in breeding plumage, but otherwise easily confused with other marsh terns. Breeding plumage with black head and belly, but pale underwing and grey rump. When in immature and winter plumage it differs from Common and Arctic tern by smaller size and short, moderately forked tail, and from other marsh terns by slimmer body and wings (compared to White-winged tern), and relatively long, thin bill. Both immature and adult winter show dark front edge of wing, and characteristic dark shoulder patch at wing base. Back is dark in immature birds. Grey rump in all plumages. Flight usually different from Sterna-terns, with erratic dives for no apparent reason, and "aimless" change of direction. Note that when foraging over saltwater, flight becomes more Sterna-like.

Sound:

Moderately vocal. Flight call a more or less clear "kleck, or a disyllabic "klee-ake" with accented first syllable. Sometimes slightly rolling "klirr-eke", but never as much as in White-winged Tern. Also a slightly harsher "kreek", but not as raspy as in Whiskered Tern.

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-sound:Ad Postma, Licence,Link.