Appearance:

Male unmistakable with its stunning colours. Broad, white eyestripe from bill to nape, and two conspicuous wing sails. Large head, compact body and long tail. Female and juvenile also distinct, but may easily be confused with Wood Duck. Differs from this by "clear cut" base of bill without wedges, less white around eye, paler head and coarser white markings on flanks. Juveniles similar to female, but browner and duller. Often perches on branches and logs.

Sound:

Display call a thin, whistling and rapidly rising "hueessst, accompanied by deeper clappering sounds. Other sounds include a short and sharp, coot-like "ket", and a short "ack".

Male display:

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:Matthias Feuersenger, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

Unmistakable in summer with almost all black plumage. White oval wing-patches in all plumages. Only auk with white wing-panels. Bill quite slender and pointed, body and wings rounded. Winter plumage blotched in grey and white, with dark wings (with white coverts). Typically scans for food by frequently dipping forehead in the water.

Sound:

Call surprisingly high pitched. Quite pure, drawn out, plaintive whistling notes in same pitch range as Hazel Grouse.

Contact 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

Sounds:Recorded by David Farrow. http://www.xeno-canto.org .CC license