Appearance:

Anonymous, indistinct plumage and secretive behaviour makes it an easily overlooked bird (except when singing). Upperparts brown-grey, tail rufous brown. Underparts dull white. Throat with faint streaking on each side. Very similar in appearance to Nightingale, but tail is not as rufous, and contrasts more with the grayer/brownish back. Overall more drab appearance. Thrush-like behaviour despite the small size, with jumping gait, raised tail and drooping wings.

Sound:

Alarm call alternates between a thin, high pitched, "piuu", and a characteristic dry, rattling, frog-like "rrrrr". Song a highly distinct mix of extremely resonant, full-bodied notes and species specific, dry, rolling, rattling sounds. Can only be confused with Nightingale, but lacks this species' interwoven series of slightly ascending, plaintive notes.

Song:

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

Appearance:

Noticeably smaller and more slender than Goosander. Bill much thinner, especially at base. Both sexes with more shaggy crest than Goosander. Male: dark head, white collar. Only sawbill with (medium) dark chest. Female differs from Goosander by smooth transition from brown head to grey lower neck, and less contrasting white throat patch. Striking white wing-bars with crossing black stripe visible in flight.

Sound:

Female call a harsh "karr karr". Male display sound a three-syllabic, fast, "chi-ka-wee" slightly resembling Goldeneye.

Female:

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:JanetandPhil, Licence,Link,

CC-photo:JanetandPhil, Licence,Link,

Sounds:Recorded by Jelmer Poelstra,http://www.xeno-canto.org ,CC license