Appearance:

Notably smaller, darker and with shorter bill than Common Snipe. Two prominent yellowish back-stripes. Dark wedge-shaped tail, and slightly rounded wings. Lacks median crown-stripe. Flanks spotted, not barred. Diagnostic behaviour: Usually flushed only at close range. Takes off silently, then quickly lands nearby. Whole body bounces rhythmically when feeding.

Sound:

May occasionally give a harsh, nasal and rolling "reearrr" when flushed, but is usually silent. Display call a peculiar, cyclic and rhythmic sound performed in flight. Recalling a galloping horse in the distance. "Galloping" interspersed with cyclic, whistling, hissing sounds. Hard to locate when displaying. Seems both close and distant at the same time.

Song:

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-photo:nhtbzk, Licence,Link,

CC-photo:Radovan Václav, Licence,Link,

CC-sound:Stein Ø. Nilsen, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

Medium sized falcon with long tail and long wings. Upperparts brick-red, underparts pale buff with dark speckles. Male; light grey head and tail. Female; brick-red head and tail. Both sexes with broad, black terminal tail-band visible on both sides. Evident, but diffuse moustache-stripe. Hovers more frequently than other raptors. Tail and wings gives a more rounded impression when soaring. Very similar to Lesser Kestrel.

Sound:

Most common call a fast series of short, high-pitched "ke-ke-ke". Much less raucous than Merlin or Peregrine.

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

Sounds:Recorded by Francesco Sottile,http://www.xeno-canto.org ,CC license