Appearance:

Small vulture with characteristic flight profile, and distinct plumage with white body, white coverts and black flight feathers (in adults). Long, wedge-shaped tail, but not longer than wings are broad (as opposed to Lammergeier). Wings square with broad, full hand (slightly pointed in Lammergeier). Small head with thin bill. At long distance plumage of adults slightly similar to White Pelican, White Stork and pale Booted Eagles, but note wedge-shaped tail. Immature birds dark brown with paler coverts. Despite the less distinct plumage, the silhouette is similar to adults. Noticeably more active wing flapping and quicker wing-beats than in the large vultures.

Sound:

Almost never heard. May emit different grunting sounds and a slightly mallard-like "ga ga ga ga ga ga ga".

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

CC

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.