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:

Summer plumage unmistakable, with black underparts framed in white, with white and grey-speckled upperparts. Diagnostic in all plumages are the black armpits, which are clearly visible in flying birds. Also shows white wing-bars and very pale tail, with some barring. Winter-plumaged and juvenile birds speckled in grey with white underparts. Can be mistaken for Golden Plover. Especially the juveniles, which may have faint golden tone to plumage. Note instead heavier bill with swollen tip and bulkier body.

Sound:

Contact call diagnostic. A plaintive, drawn and trisyllabic (but continuous) "kleeooowee". Pitch falls on second syllable and rises on last.

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

CC-photo:bathyporeia, Licence,Link.CC-sound:Paul Marvin, Licence,Link.