Birds of Iceland in taxonomic hierarchy

Spatelenten, Myvatn, Iceland. 2015-06-05 11.20.16 Iceland
First observed in Iceland on 2015-06-05.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General: Barrow's goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) is a medium-sized sea duck of the genus Bucephala, the goldeneyes. This bird was named after Sir John Barrow. The genus name is derived from Ancient Greek boukephalos, "bullheaded", from bous, "bull " and kephale, "head", a reference to the bulbous head shape of the bufflehead. The species name islandica means Iceland.^[2] [more]

Mittelsaeger Weibchen auf Lago Maggiore, Locarno. 2021-04-06 13.18.48 Northern Lago Maggiore
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-04-06.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
Personal notes: Zuerst gesehen in Lago Maggiore in Locarno. Jan 2022 auch als Wintergast am Pfaeffikersee. [Link]
Appearance and identification: In winter you can admire a few of these birds with the straggly tuft. [Link]
Habitats: River and lake
Looks similar to: Greater scaup.

Gänsesäger am Nordende des Pfäffikersee 2021-01-26 17.02.58 Pfäffikersee
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-01-26.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
Zuerst gesehen am Pfäffikersee.
Vocalization: Male: Mostly heard when courting. A twanging, disyllabic "whip-ooooo", first syllable ascending and second whistle-like and rapidly falling. Female: A coarse "ahrrr ahrrrr", or a raspy drawn "ah-ahrrrrrr ah-ahrrrrr", slightly rising, then falling in pitch. Also various cackling sounds. [Link]
Physical details: length=58-66 cm, wingspan=82-97 cm, weight=900-2100 g
Habitats: River and lake


Song: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ Source: BirdNet 20210510_090939 birdnet 1539 - Common Merganser plus Golden Oriole - = - Common Merganser - Locarno.mp3 2021-05-10 09.09.39 Locarno (song)

Eiderente, vom Steg aus gesehen in Rapperswil. 2021-02-12 13.42.20 Rapperswil
First observed in Iceland on 2015-06-09.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
Etymology: Nabu: Auch heute noch erinnert ihr wissenschaftlicher Name an die Bedeutung ihrer isolierenden Daunen für die Menschen. Übersetzt bedeutet ihr Name nämlich „die Allerweichste mit dem schwarzen Körper“. [Link]
Geography: Die im Norden Europas häufige und wegen ihren Daunenfedern bekannte Eiderente war in der Schweiz früher ein seltener Gast. Doch in der zweiten Hälfte des 20. Jahrhunderts erfolgten mehrere grosse Einflüge. Dank der Wandermuschelvermehrung war das Nahrungsangebot ausreichend und die Vögel verbrachten zunehmend den Sommer bei uns. Mittlerweile gehört die Eiderente sogar zu den Brutvögeln, was für einen ans Meer angepassten Vogel bemerkenswert ist. [Link]
Calls: Males call a typical, pleasant, clear, 2-3 second long "aaaooooooh". Starting on a low note, slowly ascending and ending on a descending note. Usually accompanied by the female "ga ga ga ga". [Link]
Physical details: length=50-71 cm, wingspan=80-108 cm, weight=1500-2800 g
Habitats: River and lake

Mother and 4 of 9 babies on the Pfäffikersee 2020-05-20 09.12.44 Pfäffikersee
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2020-05-20.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa.
Common waterbird at Pfäffikersee
Etymology: Der heutige Name kann als Hinweis auf ihre Brutplätze verstanden werden, zu denen auf Stock gesetzte Weiden, Weidengebüsch oder auch Reisighaufen gehören. ['Stock' wird weiter erklärt: Als Stockausschlag bezeichnet man bei Bäumen und Sträuchern Triebe, die nach dem Verlust der primären Sprossachse neu aus dem Stumpf oder Stubben (der dann „Stock“ genannt wird) austreiben.] [Link]
The name 'was derived from the Old French malart or mallart for "wild drake"' [Link]
Vocalization: Female: A distinct coarse, laughing quacking; "haaa ha ha ha ha ha", with first note accented and then descending in pitch. Male: a more silent, very nasal "rriib". [Link]
Calls: Display call a high-pitched short whistle. [Link]
Physical details: length=50-65 cm, wingspan=81-98 cm, weight=750-1450 g
Habitats: River and lake

Krickente am Aa-Bach beim Südende des Pfäffikersee 2021-01-26 15.41.54 Pfäffikersee
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-01-26.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
Wintergast am Teich am Aa-Bach beim Südende des Pfäffikersee
Etymology: Die hellen «krrik»-Rufe der stimmfreudigen Erpel verhalfen dieser Art zu ihrem deutschen Namen. [Link]
Vocalization: Male: characteristic, short, highly resonant and metallic "plytt". A bit similar to Pintail, but higher pitched and lacking accompanying whistling sound. Female: various quacking sounds generally quicker paced, more nasal and noticeably higher pitched than Mallard. [Link]
Physical details: length=34-38 cm, wingspan=58-64 cm, weight=200-450 g
Habitats: River and lake


Song: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ XC619133-Krickente von Peter Bosman, Belgium. Source: XENOCANTO XC619133-Krickente von Peter Bosman, Belgium.mp3 (song)


Call: Blup blup, fast wie vom Computer generiert, fur mich nohe Noten (obwohl Sonogram nur 2.5 KHz zeigt)
Krickente Ruf von XenoCanto

♫ Krickente Ruf von XenoCanto Source: XENOCANTO XC619133-Krickente von Peter Bosman, Belgium.mp3 (call)


Call attributes: Call melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: low (1-3 KHz),

Spiessente Paar. 2022-02-05 13.14.54 Klingnauer Stausee (man-made lake)
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2022-02-05.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
Long tailfeathers make the name obvious, also a thin white stripe from the white neck up the back of the head.
Vocalization: Female: similar to Mallards coarse laughing sound, but with a more emphasized first "haaa", and a more silent accelerating subsequent "laugh". Male: Pleasant, resonant "plop" similar to Teal, but lower pitched, richer, mellower and not so metallic. Accompanied by a higher pitched, slightly raspy whistling "aiiooo" rising and falling in pitch. [Link]
Physical details: length=51-66 cm, wingspan=51-66 cm, weight=500-1100 g
Habitats: River and lake

Pfeifente Erpel , Neeracher Ried. Die zehnte Entenart, die ich gefunden habe. 2021-02-24 14.05.08 Neeracherried
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-02-24.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
Etymology: Es ist der Ruf des Männchens, der zu dem deutschen Namen der Art geführt hat. Das Männchen leitet seine kurzen, scharfen, zwei- bis dreisilbigen pfeifenden wiu-Rufe häufig mit einem krr krkrkrr ein. [Link]
Funny red head (made me confused it with the Kolbente) that's brown with a golden forehead (Kolbente is brown, a bit lighter at the back of the head) is the obvious characteristic. Also has a nice black and white pattern on its back and wings with white-rimmed black feathers at the end of the wing, a bit of white before a black butt.
Vocalization: Male: a pleasant high pitched whistle "piiiiuuu", rapidly rising in pitch and then falling. Quite vocal. Female: a harsh "kraaa kraaa kraa" more like female diving-ducks than other dabbling-ducks. [Link]
Physical details: length=45-51 cm, wingspan=75-86 cm, weight=500-1000 g
Habitats: River and lake


Song: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ XC613742-Pfeifente von Adrien Mauss. Source: XENOCANTO XC613742-Pfeifente von Adrien Mauss.mp3 (song)


Call: Pfeifen, fast wie ein Rotmilan oder Maeusebussard. Ton steigt und faellt!
Pfeifente von XenoCanto

♫ Pfeifente von XenoCanto Source: XENOCANTO XC613742-Pfeifente von Adrien Mauss.mp3 (call)


Call attributes: Call melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: low (1-3 KHz),

Schnatterente am Greifensee bei Silberweide Es gab dutzende davon, dazwischen eine Krickente. 2021-02-08 15.45.18
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-02-08.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
In my mind this is the chocolate duck.
Etymology: The etymology of the word gadwall is not known, but the name has been in use since 1666.[9] [Link]
Nabu: Die Schnatterente fällt aber – wie ihr Name schon vermuten lässt – durch ihre Art der Nahrungssuche auf. Sie durchschnattert das Wasser mit ihrem Schnabel. [Link]
Chocolate bill, black-and-white pattern on head, shoulders, belly, sides of wings, chocolate patterned wings, black butt, a bit of white before the butt.
Appearance and identification: Nabu: Die Schnatterente ähnelt auf den ersten Blick so sehr der weiblichen Stockente, dass man diese schnell verwechseln kann. [Link]
Wintergast am Greifensee.
Calls: Males display-call a short dry rattling or croaking sound and some high whistling notes. Female quacking similar to Mallard, but drier and shriller. [Link]
Physical details: length=46-56 cm, wingspan=84-95 cm, weight=550-1000 g
Habitats: River and lake


Song: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ Schnatterenten, Moewen und an 29 Sekunden eindeutig ein Jet von Swiss, da wir in Neeracherried sehr nach am Kloten Flughafen sind, BirdNet schlaegt auch Teichrohrsaenger vor, wie auch ein Moewe-Typ aus Kalifornien. Source: Zoom H6 2021-10-24 13.12.46 Neeracherried (song)

Reiherente closeup bei Jona. 2021-02-12 10.34.46 Jona
First observed in Iceland on 2015-06-05.
Schwarz-weiss mit Muster auf Ruecken/Fluegel, gelbe Augen, blau-grauer Schnabel mit schwarzer Spitze
On a lake in wintertime.
Geography: 'Die Reiherente ... zählt zu den so genannten Tauchenten und gilt als die häufigste Süßwassertauchente. Es handelt sich um eine verhältnismäßig kleine, kompakt gebaute Ente. Auffällig sind der verhältnismäßig kurze Schnabel und der auffällig runde Kopf. Die Männchen haben am Hinterkopf einen langen, herabhängenden Schopf. Das Weibchen weist eine kurze Holle auf. Die Reiherente ist in Mitteleuropa ein verbreiteter Brut- und Jahresvogel', und in der Schweiz ein Wintergast. [Link]
Vocalization: Male display sound: High pitched short whistling-like noises, "pjuu-uu", not very audible. [Link]
Calls: Both sexes have harsh "ahrrrr" calls like other diving ducks, sometimes with a crow-like quality. [Link]
Physical details: length=40-47 cm, wingspan=67-73 cm, weight=500-1000 g
Habitats: River and lake

Wikipedia: Greater scaup Source: OTHER 1200px-2017-03-24_Aythya_marila%2C_male%2C_Killingworth_Lake%2C_Northumberland_15.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast RL R
Calls: Male call carries only a few meters: a whistling "po-ho" last syllable slowly descending. Female calls with harsh "harr-harrr-harrr". [Link]
Physical details: length=42-51 cm, wingspan=72-84 cm, weight=700-1300 g
Habitats: River and lake
Looks similar to: Red-breasted merganser.

Wikipedia: Harlequin duck Source: OTHER 1200px-Histrionicus_histrionicus_drake_Barnegat.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General: The harlequin duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) is a small sea duck. It takes its name from Harlequin (French Arlequin, Italian Arlecchino), a colourfully dressed character in Commedia dell'arte. The species name comes from the Latin word "histrio", meaning "actor".^[2] In North America it is also known as lords and ladies. Other names include painted duck, totem pole duck, rock duck, glacier duck, mountain duck, white-eyed diver, squeaker and blue streak. [more]

Wikipedia: Long-tailed duck Source: OTHER Long-tailed-duck.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast
Habitats: River and lake

Wikipedia: Common scoter Source: OTHER 1200px-Eurasian_common_scoter.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
General: Anas nigra Linnaeus, 1758 [more]
Vocalization: More vocal than other Scoters. Short, whistling sounds, sometimes reminiscent of a male teal, but a little bit deeper in pitch. [Link]
Physical details: length=44-54 cm, wingspan=79-90 cm, weight=650-1300 g
Habitats: River and lake

Graugans paar. 2021-03-07 12.23.32
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-02-26.
Found on practically all Swiss lakes, especially north of the alps.
Appearance and identification: Grösste europäische Wildgans. [Link]
Vocalization: Various cackling and honking sounds "gaiiiaia-ga-ga". [Link]
Calls: Typically the first syllable is accented, and given with a register break into higher pitch (at 0:18 in recording). [Link]
Physical details: length=75-90 cm, wingspan=147-180 cm, weight=2100-4300 g
Habitats: River and lake

Wikipedia: Pink-footed goose Source: OTHER KurzschnabelgansRL.jpg
Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast Bruten gehen auf entflogene Tiere zurück

Wikipedia: Taiga bean goose Source: OTHER Bean.goose.600pix.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast Bruten gehen auf entflogene Tiere zurück
Calls: Do not call as much as other grey geese. Sounds similar to the lower sounds of Pink-footed goose, with various reedy calls, but harder, less nasal and more of a "sore throat". [Link]
Physical details: length=66-84 cm, wingspan=142-175 cm, weight=2220-4060 g
Habitats: River and lake

White-fronted goose closeup, on the way home from Laphroiag? 2023-08-11 13.38.38 Islay
First observed in Islay on 2023-08-11.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast Bruten gehen auf entflogene Tiere zurück
Habitats: River and lake

Whooper swan, Iceland. 2015-06-03 16.01.16 Iceland
First observed in Iceland on 2015-06-03.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast RL R
Vocalization: Quite vocal. Trumpet-like clear honks of half a second length most frequent in flight and take-off/landing. Often voiced with a register break. [Link]
Physical details: length=145-160 cm, wingspan=218-243 cm, weight=8500-10000 g
Habitats: River and lake

Wikipedia: Brant Source: OTHER Brent-Goose.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast
Vocalization: A bubbling, trembling, ascending, three syllable "ahrahrrhit", quite different from other geese. [Link]
Physical details: length=56-61 cm, wingspan=110-120 cm, weight=1300-1600 g

Weisswangengans am Pfaeffikersee. 2021-04-22 11.58.06 Pfäffikersee
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-04-22.
Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel, Wintergast nach 1975 in Deutschland brütend
Vocalization: Voice: Quite vocal. Also other lower, grunting sounds when grazing. [Link]
Calls: Contact call a short yapping, barking sound like a small dog. [Link]
Physical details: length=58-70 cm, wingspan=132-145 cm, weight=1300-2200 g

Great cormorant / Kormoran (Phalacrocorax carbo)

Cormorant Cormorants' feathers lack the waterproofing that ducks have, so you often see them drying their wings on a convenient perch. 2021-01-26 15.56.30 Pfäffikersee
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-01-26.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
Seasonal Behavior: Lokaler Brutvogel, regelmässiger, häufiger Durchzügler und Wintergast.[Brutpaare am Zuerichsee und Greifensee bei Moenchaltorf] [Link]
Vocalization: Mostly heard at breeding ground. Also deep, rattling and creaking sounds. [Link]
Calls: Coarse, vibrating calls "hahahahaharo". [Link]
Physical details: length=80-100 cm, wingspan=130-160 cm, weight=1700-3000 g
Habitats: River and lake


Song: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ Source: BirdNet 20210519_073923 birdnet 1559 - Great Cormorant - 2021-05-19 07:39:23 - Great Cormorant - Cudrefin.mp3 2021-05-19 07.39.23 La Sauge (song)

European shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis)

Wikipedia: European shag Source: OTHER 1200px-Shag_Phalacrocorax_aristotelis.jpg
General: The European shag or common shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) is a species of cormorant. It breeds around the rocky coasts of western and southern Europe, southwest Asia and north Africa, mainly wintering in its breeding range except for the northernmost birds. In Britain this seabird is usually referred to as simply the shag.^[2] The scientific genus name is Latinised Ancient Greek, from φαλακρός (phalakros, "bald") and κόραξ (korax, "raven"). The species name aristotelis commemorates the Greek philosopher Aristotle.^[3] Due having some notable differences from all other cormorants, some recent studies instead support placing it in the monotypic genus Gulosus.^[4] [more]
Vocalization: Very deep and harsh voice heard at breeding ground. Deep grunts alternated, or ended with clicking sounds. [Link]
Physical details: length=65-80 cm, wingspan=90-105 cm, weight=1760-2154 g

Northern gannet / Basstölpel (Morus bassanus)

Wikipedia: Northern gannet Source: OTHER 1200px-Morus_bassanus_adu.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL R
Vocalization: Heard mostly at breeding ground. Even, rhythmical series of harsh "harrr, harrr, harrr,". [Link]
Physical details: length=87-100 cm, wingspan=165-180 cm, weight=2400-3600 g

Wikipedia: Common redpoll Source: OTHER 1200px-Carduelis_flammea_CT6.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
roter Punkt auf Kopf, sonst weiss+braun, teilweise hell-rot auf brust.
Behavior: Trotz Ihrer roten Abzeichen sind die bräunlich-weiss gestreiften Vögel wenig auffällig, und wenn sie nicht gerade rufen, bleiben sie meist unentdeckt. Oft fliegen sie unvermittelt auf, drehen im Schwarm eine Runde und fallen wieder ein. [Link]
Song: Song an improvised chattering on various contact calls with no apparent phrasing. [Link]
Calls: Contact call diagnostic. A chattering "Chutt-utt-utt", with a more metallic and nasal timbre than Linnet and Twite. Other sound includes plaintive call mostly given when perched. Uttered as a continuous sound, but with a disyllabic feel. First part ascending slowly, then faster before it is cut off "tsooeet". [Link]
Physical details: length=11-14 cm, wingspan=20-25 cm, weight=9-16 g
Habitats: Mountain


Song: A few chirps and a trill, then repeat.
Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic, fast, Frequency: 2-6 KHz Special sounds: trill

Wikipedia: Snow bunting Source: OTHER 1200px-Plectrophenax_nivalis1.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
Deutschland: Wintergast
Song: Song simple and melodic. 2-5 syllable motifs with fairly wide tonal range. Can be confused with Lapland Bunting, but is much purer in tone with a less jingling timbre. Local dialects. [Link]
Calls: Contact call a short, melodic and rapidly descending "peeuu". Often alternating with a rattling "trrreet". "Peeuu"-call quite similar to Lapland Bunting, but harder, purer in tone and less nasal. [Link]
Physical details: length=16-17 cm, wingspan=32-38 cm, weight=28-50 g

Wikipedia: Meadow pipit Source: OTHER 1200px-Wiesenpieper_Meadow_pipit.jpg
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-06-27.
Looks like Misteldrossel
Song: Ähnlich Baumpieper, aber ohne Zia-Rufe. Vollständiger Gesang nur in flatterndem Singflug. Lange Strophen. Mittelstück meist zart und hoch [Link]
Song very similar to Rock Pipit, but tone less full and more brittle. Lacks Rock Pipit's closing trill, and beginning is less "hammering". [Link]
Calls: fast tonlos „ist, ist.“ [Link]
Contact call a short "eest". Similar to Rock Pipit but shorter,cleaner and most often in quick series. Warning call a sharp, high pitched "tzeet". Also a rattling "trrrrt". [Link]
Physical details: length=14 cm, wingspan=22-25 cm, weight=15-22 g
Habitats: Mountain
Looks similar to: Mistle thrush.

Song: Single note, possibly rising at the end. (Or: long 4 second phrases, gradually louder then softer; swoopy or whoopy.) Sings in flight. BirdID: Song very similar to Rock Pipit, but tone less full and more brittle. Lacks Rock Pipit's closing trill, and beginning is less "hammering". - but what does a rock pipit sound like?
Song attributes: Melody: one note, fast, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz)
♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC722919 - Meadow Pipit - Anthus pratensis - song.mp3 (song)

White wagtail at edge of field near Mesikon 2020-04-25 07.21.02 Luppmen
First observed in Iceland on 2015-06-05.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
General: The white wagtail (Motacilla alba) is a small passerine bird in the family Motacillidae, which also includes pipits and longclaws. The species breeds in much of Europe and the Asian Palearctic and parts of North Africa. It has a toehold in Alaska as a scarce breeder. It is resident in the mildest parts of its range, but otherwise migrates to Africa. In Ireland and Great Britain, the darker subspecies, the pied wagtail or water wagtail^[2] (M. a. yarrellii) predominates. In total, there are between 9 and 11 subspecies. [more]
Song: Song either slow and primitive, consisting of sharp falling notes given by perched birds, or longer fast and energic bursts in excited song-flight. [Link]
Calls: Contact calls short and sharp. Usually with disyllabic, "bouncing" quality, and with each syllable only accented, not clearly separated from the other (see Grey Wagtail). [Link]
Physical details: length=18 cm, wingspan=25-30 cm, weight=17-25 g
Habitats: Settlement


Song: General: Usually just calls. This song is just a few chirpy slurs, sometimes rising-rising-falling.
Song: Zirpt wie ein Sperling aber weniger Noten. Lh lh lh [Link]
Song attributes: Melody: stereotype melodic, slow, Frequency: 2-7 KHz
♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC694995 - White Wagtail - Motacilla alba - song recorded in Spain.mp3 Spain (song)


Call: bird-song.ch: zweisilbig «zilipp» oder einsilbig «zipp»

♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC644775 - White Wagtail - Motacilla alba alba - call, recorded in Estonia.mp3 (call)


Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 3-7 KHz,

Common starling / Star (Sturnus vulgaris)

Im richtigen Licht schimmern die Federn. 2020-04-11 07.54.52 Luppmen
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2020-04-11.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America (introduced), Africa.
Learned on BBC's Winterwatch: the movement of a swarm of starlings is called a murmuration! Check out this this video or even an entire half hour
In trees or in the fields by the cows.
Frequently seen here, for instance by their nests under the eaves of one of the Toblerone houses. Introduced to North America from Europe by Eugene Schieffelin.
Eine der Vogelarten, die gleichzeitig zwei Töne singen kann!
Vocalization: Among the best of imitators. Mimics birds, animals and mechanical noises. Often makes several sounds at the same time. [Link]
Song: Song a highly varied mix of falling whistles, bill-clappering and various masterful mimicry. [Link]
Calls: Other calls; a harsh "chaee" and a short sharp "tink". [Link]
Physical details: length=21 cm, wingspan=37-42 cm, weight=60-90 g
Habitats: Agricultural


Song: I find their individual song amusing, with its (long) whoops and weird noises. As a group, they're just noisy!
Song attributes: Melody: improvised melodic, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz) Special sounds: whoop, mimicry, weird Singing season: 01-01 - 09-30 Dawn chorus start, 15 minutes before dawn.
Call: I hear this occasionally and really enjoy it - a long rising 'whoop', as I call it', starting low at 1 1/2 KHz and rising to 6 1/2 KHz!

♫ Source: BirdNet 20210823_172609 birdnet 1968 - European Starling long whoop call - 2021-08-23 17:26:09 - European Starling - Fehraltorf.mp3 2021-08-23 17.26.09 Fehraltorf (call)

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 1-6 KHz, Special sounds: whoop.

Redwing / Rotdrossel (Turdus iliacus)

Rotdrossel in einem baum neben dem Luppmen, rot unter den Fluegeln gut erkennbar, auch weisser Ueberaugenstreif. 2020-12-30 10.33.36 Luppmen
First observed in Iceland on 2015-06-05.
In Switzerland these are migrants or winter guests that breed in Scandinavia. I saw a group that landed in a tree by the Luppmen. Some sang an odd song that I didn't recognize but unfortunately couldn't record. They were rather nervous and quickly flew off.
I had an interesting educational experience with fieldfares! At the end of December 2020 I saw redwings in Fehraltorf for the first time. They're a winter guest that breeds in Scandinavia. Jan 2021 I saw one from our dining room window, and two days later saw 31 of them land in four trees along the Luppmen brook, and spontaneously decided to report them via the eBird app. The next day I got an automated response saying this was an unusually high number, and that I should document the sighting further. I added pictures of the group in the trees pus one of an individual close up. Then I got a nice e-mail from eBird volunteer Raphaël Nussbaumer, an Earth Science PhD and postdoc at the Swiss Ornithological Institute, saying that my redwings were fieldfares. I checked the guide books and apps, and that seemed plausible. I was surprised that none of them mentioned the danger of confusing the two, which are actually quite similar (and related). I checked the closeup I took on December 31 and asked Raphaël if it was actually a redwing, and he confirmed it. So I actually found two (to me) new thrushes within 3 weeks. He noted 'they are often found mixed with fieldfare or mistle thrush, so one has to be careful to check the entire group and not assume that all are redwings. I saw 8 similar looking birds when I saw the actual redwing, and while I think there's more than one redwing there, I can't see the whole flock well enough to be sure.
Appearance and identification: Vogelwarte.ch describes just what I saw. In translation, somewhat smaller than a song thrush and distinguishable from them by the prominent white stripe above the eye and the rust-red feathers under the wings. [Link]
Vocalization: First a simple, melodic phrase of 3 - 6 notes, usually followed by a more silent, indistinct, fast and less melodic, chattering sequence. First part highly variable from place to place, but constant in individuals. Often causes confusion when a new dialect is heard at a distance, since only the first part is far-reaching, and the diagnostic two-part structure gets lost. [Link]
Song: Song delivered in two parts. [Link]
Calls: Contact call a thin, drawn and sharp "sreee". Often heard at night during migration. Alarm call harder, dryer and more raucous than other thrushes. [Link]
Physical details: length=21 cm, wingspan=33-34 cm, weight=50-75 g
Habitats: Forest


Song: Song delivered in two parts. First a simple, melodic phrase of 3 - 6 notes, usually followed by a more silent, indistinct, fast and less melodic, chattering sequence. First part highly variable from place to place, but constant in individuals. [Link]
Song attributes: Mnemnoic: down 6+chattering Melody: stereotype melodic, slow, Frequency: 3-5 KHz
♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC320315 - Redwing - Turdus iliacus.mp3 (song)

Fieldfare / Wacholderdrossel (Turdus pilaris)

Wacholderdrossel am Luppmen in Fehraltorf 2021-01-16 14.28.10
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-01-16.
I had an interesting educational experience with fieldfares! Check it out under Redwing.
Appearance and identification: The fieldfare is 25 cm (10 in) long, with a grey crown, neck and rump, a plain brown back, dark wings and tail and white underwings. [Link]
Geography: Nabu: 'Die ursprüngliche Heimat dieser nordischen Drossel ist die Sibirische Taiga. Vor etwa 200 Jahren begann ihre Ausbreitung in den südwestlichen Raum Europas.'Wie der Misteldrossel vertreibt der Wacholderdrossel Feinde wie Elster, Rabenkrähe oder Bussard vom Nestgebiet mit Kotbomben. ['Die Wacholderdrossel - Turdus pilaris Ein Wintergast wird heimisch', von Paul Laakmann aus Buntspecht 3/1986]
Behavior: Misteldrossel greifen Vögel an die ihr Nest bedrohen koennten. Das nennt man eine Kopropolemische Reaktion - vom griechischen für Kot under Krieg. Mester meint Hauptziel der Angriffe waere meistens der Kopf. Woanders wurde erwahnt, dass der Kot der Misteldrosseln besonders klebrig ist, eben weil der Vogel viele Mistelbeeren frisst, und wenn die Feder zusammenkleben, koennt das Opfer nicht optimal fliegen. [Artikel 'Defensive Defaekation in der Vogelwelt' von Horst Mester, erschienen Oktober 1976 in 'Der Ornithologische Beobachter']
Vocalization: Very vocal. [Link]
Song: Gesang nicht melodisch,aus gepressten, quietschenden Tönen bestehend, fast nur im Flug vorgetragen. [Link]
Song a mix of dry contact calls; "trrrt trrrrt", and high pitched, drawn out, chattering improvisations. [Link]
Calls: Schackernd, ähnlich obiger Art [Misteldrossel], aber weicher. Am Brutplatz raue krächzende Rufe. [Link]
Scolding call a hard "check", often given in decelerating series. Contact call in migration a soft, pleasant but, buzzy "weet". Typically bursts into continuos, squeaky chattering at takeoff. [Link]
Physical details: length=25 cm, wingspan=39-42 cm, weight=80-120 g
Habitats: Forest


Song: BirdID says song a mix of dry contact calls, BirdLife that it's almost only heard in flight. The XC recording is a bit of a chuckle to me.
Song attributes: Melody: non-musical, slow, Frequency: 1-6 KHz Special sounds: rasp
♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC769296 - Fieldfare - Turdus pilaris - song, a series of contactcalls.mp3 (song)

Common blackbird / Amsel (Turdus merula)

Amsel bei friedliweid. 2020-04-13 10.28.42 Friedliweid
First observed in Australia on 2008-01-01.
The first bird I loved listening to
Song: Melodisch flötend dazwischen auch zerquetschte Töne. Die Elemente werden nicht wiederholt. Singt von Singwarte aus. Ca. 100 verschiedene Strophentypen. [Link]
One of the most appreciated song birds. Very melodious and resonant, with long mellow notes and a large register. Less high pitched sounds than Song Thrush, and seldom repeats a phrase. Timbre fuller than both Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush. Well defined pauses between phrases, giving the song a relaxed pace. [Link]
Calls: Je nach Situation, „duck duck duck“, „tix-tix-tix“ in rascher Folge, „srieh“ (auch als Flugwarnruf) [Link]
Large repertoire of calls. Most characteristic is a hysterical rattle often given when flushed. Sometimes preceded by a hard "tok tok", which then accelerates into a panicky arpeggio-like crescendo. Contact call a thin redwing-like "srrreee". Alarm calls: a sharp "tink, tink" or a very high pitch falling whistle. [Link]
Physical details: length=24-25 cm, wingspan=34-38 cm, weight=80-125 g
Habitats: Settlement


Song: Other: Gut zu erkennen ist die Amsel. Sie singt melodiös, erklärt Heller, «zuerst flötend und dann gegen Schluss so schnirpslig». Die Amsel singe gerne dort, wo sie gut gehört werde, etwa vor Hauswänden, die den Schall nicht schlucken. Ich wollte schauen was schnirpslig heisst, aber diese ist diese einzige Verwendung, die Google kennt! Der flötende Teil ist relativ tief, 1.5-3 KHz, der schnirpslige aber 2.5-7 KHz. (Schnirpslig ist ein schones Wort das der Redner erfunden hat - Google findet nur diese eine Webseite mit dem Wort!) [Von der SRF Webseite:]
Song attributes: Melody: improvised melodic (lmh), slow, Frequency: 1-7 KHz Special sounds: flourish Singing season: 02-01 - 07-31 Dawn chorus start, 45 minutes before dawn.
♫ Repetitiver, einfallsloser Amsel den ich für einen Misteldrossel gehalten habe, dazu eine Kohlemeise der lmh singt und ich mit einer Tannen-meise gewechselt habe. Source: Zoom H6 2023-02-23 17.40.48 (song)

Call: Loud falling series of notes, unlike anything else you hear from a blackbird
Call attributes: alarm call Call melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz),

Northern wheatear / Steinschmätzer (Oenanthe oenanthe)

Male northern wheatear, photo by Andreas Trepte - Own work, CC BY-SA 2.5 Source: WIKIPEDIA Wikimedia Steinschmaetzer_Northern_wheatear_male.jpg
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-07-29.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
General: I thought after seeing these at over 2700 meters that they must be a typical mountain bird (and in the FOK Zurich materials they were in the mountain section), however Wikipedia explains that such a stony landscape is the key, whether that is high or not:
Geography: The northern wheatear is a migratory insectivorous species breeding in open stony country in Europe and east across the Palearctic with footholds in northeastern Canada and Greenland as well as in northwestern Canada and Alaska. It nests in rock crevices and rabbit burrows. All birds spend most of their winter in Africa. ... Miniature tracking devices have recently shown that the northern wheatear has one of the longest migratory flights known - 30,000 km (18,640 miles), from sub-Saharan Africa to their Arctic breeding grounds.[15] [Link]
Strangely the residence and migration maps differ greatly by source: in Wikipedia the northern wheatear spends winter in subsaharan Africa, while the authoratitive Kosmos-Vogelführer shows some in northern Africa like Morocco. Most other sources agree with Wikipedia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
I thought the German name Steinschmätzer, presumably stone kisser (no one explains it, oddly enough) to be much more logical than the English northern wheatear. I was greatly amused to look it up and find it to be a 'folk etymology of "white" and "arse"' (Wikipedia).
Etymology: The genus name Oenanthe is derived from the Greek oenos (οίνος) "wine" and anthos (ανθός) "flower". It refers to the northern wheatear's return to Greece in the spring just as the grapevines blossom. [Link]
It has an evil-looking black eye stripe like the shrike. (I liked Nici Baiker's description of it in the FOK field ornithology course as 'Zorro look'.) I saw one flying on Muottas Muragl and thought the striking gray oval surrounded by dark feathers has to be typical and seems unique to the northern wheatear.
In den FOK Unterlagen werden die Zugrouten von Alaska und von nordosten Kanada gezeigt, die beide fuer Winter nach Afrika ziehen. Die aus Alaska fliegen ueber Asien unglaubliche 15000 Kilometer! Die in Kanada haben es auch nicht leicht, da sie zuerst ueber den Atlantik nach Spanien fliegen!
Vocalization: Each phrase is often introduced by the "weet" sound, then followed by hastened, creaking, rattling and warbling sounds of 1-2 seconds duration. [Link]
Song: Kurze, wechselvolle Strophe mit vielen unreinen Tönen. Meist von erhöhter Warte aus oder in kurzem Singflug vorgetragen. [Link]
The Wheatear song consists of short phrases with marked pauses. The "check" sound is also often included in the song. [Link]
Calls: „Tschack“ auch „hiit“ (saugend) [Link]
Contact and alarm call a high pitched, sharp "weet", followed by a hard "check", like hitting two rocks together. The "weet" sound is much sharper than the similar sound in Whinchat and Stonechat. Wheater usually repeats the "weet" sound more frequently than the "check" sound. The "check" of Stonechat is less pure and more gritty. [Link]
Physical details: length=14-15 cm, wingspan=26-32 cm, weight=18-29 g
Habitats: Mountain
Looks similar to: Red-backed shrike.

Song: The Wheatear song consists of short phrases with marked pauses. Each phrase is often introduced by the "weet" sound, then followed by hastened, creaking, rattling and warbling sounds of 1-2 seconds duration. The "check" sound is also often included in the song. [Link]
Song attributes: Melody: improvised melodic, fast, Frequency: 2-6 KHz Special sounds: rattle, rasp
♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC730221 - Northern Wheatear - Oenanthe oenanthe - song recorded in France, just 2-3 notes, then long pause.mp3 (song)


♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC764932 - Northern Wheatear - Oenanthe oenanthe - song recorded in Sweden with lots of whoops and swoops, about 2 seconds long, then 3-4 seconds pause.mp3 (song)


♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC319898 - Northern Wheatear - Oenanthe oenanthe - song recorded in Scotland and includes creaking or rattling mentioned at Nord U BirdID.mp3 Scotland (song)


♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC769228 - Northern Wheatear - Oenanthe oenanthe - song recorded in the Netherlands.mp3 (song)

Eurasian Wren foraging in the reeds at the frozen Lake Pfaeffikon 2021-02-15 08.41.30 Pfäffikersee
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2019-07-07.
Etymology: The scientific name is taken from the Greek word "troglodytes" (from trogle a hole, and dyein to creep), meaning "cave-dweller",[4] and refers to its habit of disappearing into cavities or crevices whilst hunting arthropods or to roost. [Link]
Song: Auffällig laut für den kleinen Vogel. Singt auch im Winter! Schmetternd, mit einem bis zwei Trillern als letztes oder vorletztes Glied. [Link]
Song surprisingly loud. A high-pitched stream of clear notes resembling Robin and Dunnock in timbre. Differs from those in showing frequent shifts in pitch with much larger register than Dunnock, and by the unique, numerous, interspersed long trills. [Link]
Calls: „zerr“ (z-und rr-gleichzeitig) auch durchdringendes „tzr“(Gezetter) [Link]
Warning call a short hard "teck", like banging two rocks together. Often repeated in series when excited to form machine-gun-like "firing". [Link]
Physical details: length=9-10 cm, wingspan=13-17 cm, weight=7-12 g
Habitats: Forest


Song: High-pitched, melodic, very variable with many trills and whistles.
Song attributes: Melody: improvised melodic, fast, Frequency: high (3-9 KHz) Special sounds: trill Singing season: 02-01 - 07-31 Dawn chorus start, 40 minutes before dawn.
Call: Sputtery/drippy/trilly repeated notes at 3-8 KHz. June 2022 heard check calls that were distinctly irregularly in their rhythm.
Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 3-8 KHz, Special sounds: sputter/pebble-clatter.

Kolkrabe am Aabach, Wetzikon. 2021-03-10 09.49.56 Wetzikon
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-03-10.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
The raven is often mentioned in word puzzles as the largest songbird.
Good to know: Other: A flock of ravens may be called an unkindness [Literary names of groups and flocks]
Etymology: Kolk, die erste Silbe seines seit dem 16. Jahrhundert bezeugten deutschen Namens, ist vermutlich lautmalerischen Ursprungs, ahmt also den Ruf des Vogels nach. [Link]
Appearance and identification: It is one of the two largest corvids, alongside the thick-billed raven, and is possibly the heaviest passerine bird [Link]
Ravens are larger, the size of a Red-tailed Hawk [in Switzerland a red kite, similar 'length' but only 2/3 of the huge kite wingspan]. Ravens often travel in pairs, while crows are seen in larger groups. Also, watch the bird’s tail as it flies overhead. The crow’s tail feathers are basically the same length, so when the bird spreads its tail, it opens like a fan. Ravens, however, have longer middle feathers in their tails, so their tail appears wedge-shaped when open. Listen closely to the birds’ calls. Crows give a cawing sound. But ravens produce a lower croaking sound. [How to Tell a Raven From a Crow]
Vocalization: Quite varied repertoire. Most heard sound a short, coarse, but resonant "korrk. Other sounds may be surprisingly resonant and pure, like a ringing "clong" etc. Shows even more variation when courting. [Link]
Physical details: length=64 cm, wingspan=120-150 cm, weight=800-1560 g
Habitats: Mountain


Song: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ XC779842 - Northern Raven - Corvus corax corax - call recorded in Sweden. Source: XENOCANTO XC779842 - Northern Raven - Corvus corax corax - call recorded in Sweden.mp3 (call)


Call: Graak!
Call attributes: Call melody: non-musical, slow, Frequency: low (1-3 KHz), Special sounds: cawing.

Near Badi Auslikon at the Pfäffikersee. I thought I had only seen black-headed gulls, but on reviewing my photos, I noticed the yellow bill. Other typical characteristics: it's bigger than the black-headed gull next to it, it doesn't have the Charlie Brown half-ring around the eye, it has less gray and only a few shorter black tail feathers. 2021-02-05 11.34.30 Pfäffikersee
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-03-07.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
Not so common in Switzerland (most common would be the black-headed gull as far as I can see
Appearance and identification: Nabu: NABU ueber das Aussehen der Sturmmoewe: 'Sturmmöwen sind etwas größer als Lachmöwen, jedoch deutlich kleiner als Silbermöwen. Sie sind überwiegend weiß mit grauem Rücken und grauen Flügeln. Die Flügelenden sind schwarz mit weißer Spitze. Der Kopf ist rundlich, die dunklen Augen dünn rot umrandet. Der schlanke Schnabel und die Beine sind grünlichgelb, ein Schnabelfleck fehlt.' [Portraet]
Vocalization: Various mewing sounds. Similar in form to Herring Gull, but much higher pitched. [Link]
Physical details: length=40-42 cm, wingspan=100-115 cm, weight=300-480 g
not sexually dimporphic.
Identifying characteristics: general: head = white (Gray in winter and when young), beak = yellow (greenish yellow), legs = yellow (duller in winter), , , , Adult: wings = gray, , , Youth: wings = white (with brown streaks), , Winter: tail = black (and white striped), Prachtkleid: tail = white
Habitats: River and lake

Lesser black-backed gull - yellow legs, yellow break with red under tip, black back but white shoulders. 2023-09-27 12.40.12 Florida
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
General: The lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus) is a large gull that breeds on the Atlantic coasts of Europe. It is migratory, wintering from the British Isles south to West Africa. It is a regular winter visitor to the east coast of North America, probably from the breeding population in Iceland. [more]
Habitats: River and lake

Herring gulls at Squam Lake, New Hampshire. 2023-10-06 12.47.32 New England
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America.
Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Vocalization: Quite vocal. A long and strong "ay-kay-kay-kay-kay" with fading strength commonly heard. A deep "ga-ga-ga" heard from anxious birds. [Link]
Calls: All calls much deeper pitched than Common Gull. Difficult to distinguish from Lesser Black-backed Gull, but tone is less nasal. [Link]
Physical details: length=55-64 cm, wingspan=123-148 cm, weight=750-1440 g
Habitats: River and lake

Great black-backed gull (Mantelmöwe), Islay near Bridgend. 2023-08-11 09.31.48 Islay
First observed in Islay on 2023-08-11.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL R
Habitats: River and lake

Wikipedia: Iceland gull Source: OTHER 1200px-Larus_glaucoides_IthacaNY.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General: The Iceland gull (Larus glaucoides) is a medium-sized gull that breeds in the Arctic regions of Canada and Greenland, but not in Iceland (as its name suggests), where it is only seen during winter. The genus name is from Latin larus, which appears to have referred to a gull or other large seabird. The specific name glaucoides denotes its resemblance to Larus glaucus, a synonym of Larus hyperboreus, the glaucous gull; -oides is Ancient Greek and means "resembling".^[2] [more]
Vocalization: Like Herring Gull, but tone sharper. [Link]
Physical details: length=52-60 cm, wingspan=140-150 cm, weight=460-1039 g

MerlinBirdID says glaucous gull and American black duck females. 2023-10-12 13.39.32 New England
First observed in New England on 2023-10-12.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General: The glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus) is a large gull, the second-largest gull in the world. It breeds in Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere and winters south to shores of the Holarctic. The genus name is from Latin larus, which appears to have referred to a gull or other large seabird. The specific name hyperboreus is Latin for "northern" from the Ancient Greek Huperboreoi people from the far north ^[2] "Glaucous" is from Latin glaucus and denotes the grey colour of the gull.^[3] [more]
Vocalization: Like Herring Gull. [Link]
Physical details: length=62-68 cm, wingspan=150-165 cm, weight=964-2215 g

On a canal feeding into the Pfäffikersee Paradoxically, they don't have to have a black head. 2020-10-30 16.51.58 Pfäffikersee
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2020-05-20.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
Common waterbird at Pfäffikersee, that doesn't necessarily have the eponymous black head.
not sexually dimporphic.
No breeding plumage Identifying characteristics: Summer: head = black, , , , , tail = black Winter: head = white (With Charlie Brown-style half circle behind the eye), , , , general: beak = red, legs = red, wings = gray,
Habitats: River and lake


Song: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ Source: BirdNet 20210427_165123 birdnet 1485 - Black-headed Gull racket at Chlisee - No confident detection - Wetzikon.mp3 2021-04-27 16.51.23 Wetzikon (song)

Black-legged kittiwake / Dreizehenmöwe (Rissa tridactyla)

Wikipedia: Black-legged kittiwake Source: OTHER 1200px-Rissa_tridactyla_%28Vard%C3%B8%2C_2012%29.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
General: The black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) is a seabird species in the gull family Laridae. [more]
Vocalization: Highly vocal at breeding ground. A mewing "kitti-wake", with the pitch rising on the second drawn out syllable, and then falling. Generally silent elsewhere, except when squabbling over food. [Link]
Physical details: length=38-40 cm, wingspan=95-105 cm, weight=310-500 g

Great auk / Riesenalk (Pinguinus impennis)

Wikipedia: Great auk Source: OTHER Great_Auk_%28Pinguinis_impennis%29_specimen%2C_Kelvingrove%2C_Glasgow_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1108249.jpg
General: The great auk (Pinguinus impennis) is a species of flightless alcid that became extinct in the mid-19th century. It was the only modern species in the genus Pinguinus. It is not closely related to the birds now known as penguins, which were discovered later and so named by sailors because of their physical resemblance to the great auk. [more]

Common ringed plover / Sandregenpfeifer (Charadrius hiaticula)

Sandregenpfeifer im Profil, Neeracherried. 2022-09-04 07.25.18 Neeracherried
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2022-09-04.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
The common ringed plover or ringed plover (Charadrius hiaticula) is a small plover that breeds in Arctic Eurasia. The genus name Charadrius is a Late Latin word for a yellowish bird mentioned in the fourth-century Vulgate. It derives from Ancient Greek kharadrios a bird found in ravines and river valleys (kharadra, "ravine"). The specific hiaticula is Latin and has a similar meaning to the Greek term, coming from hiatus, "cleft" and -cola, "dweller" (colere, "to dwell").^[2] [more]
Vocalization: Usually heard before seen. [Link]
Song: Song a cyclic repetition of the contact call. Sometimes with a shortened phrases and a more creaking timbre. [Link]
Calls: Contact call a short, soft "koo-eep", with the emphasised second part higher and rising in pitch. [Link]
Physical details: length=18-20 cm, wingspan=48-57 cm, weight=55-73 g
Habitats: Wetland

Semipalmated plover / Amerika-Sandregenpfeifer (Charadrius semipalmatus)

Wikipedia: Semipalmated plover Source: OTHER Semipalmated_Plover.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Australia.
vagrant

European golden-plover / Goldregenpfeifer (Pluvialis apricaria)

Wikipedia: European golden-plover Source: OTHER 1200px-Kul%C3%ADk_zlat%C3%BD_%28Pluvialis_apricaria%29_a_%283949776435%29.jpg
General: The European golden plover (Pluvialis apricaria), also known as the European golden-plover, Eurasian golden plover, or just the golden plover within Europe, is a largish plover. This species is similar to two other golden plovers: the American golden plover, Pluvialis dominica, and Pacific golden plover, Pluvialis fulva, which are both smaller, slimmer and relatively longer-legged than European golden plover, and both have grey rather than white axillary feathers (only properly visible in flight). [more]
Song: In song flight also a trilling, warbling and cyclic "preecaria-preecaria-preecaria". [Link]
Calls: Most common call at breeding ground a disyllabic, melancholic and wailing whistle with the end falling in pitch. Contact call a straight, short "kluee". [Link]
Physical details: length=26-29 cm, wingspan=67-76 cm, weight=160-280 g
Habitats: Wetland

Temminck's stint / Temminckstrandläufer (Calidris temminckii)

Wikipedia: Temminck's stint Source: OTHER 1200px-Temmincks_Stint.jpg
General: Temminck's stint (Calidris temminckii) is a small wader. This bird's common name and Latin binomial commemorate the Dutch naturalist Coenraad Jacob Temminck.^[3] The genus name is from Ancient Greek kalidris or skalidris, a term used by Aristotle for some grey-coloured waterside birds.^[4] [more]
Habitats: Wetland

Red knot / Knutt (Calidris canutus)

Red knots, according to MerlinBirdID - underway to somewhere better at Las Coloradas. 2023-04-15 09.34.08 Yucatan
First observed in Yucatan on 2023-04-15.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
The red knot (Calidris canutus) (just knot in English-speaking Europe) is a medium-sized shorebird which breeds in tundra and the Arctic Cordillera in the far north of Canada, Europe, and Russia. It is a large member of the Calidris sandpipers, second only to the great knot.^[2] Six subspecies are recognised. [more]
Song: Song an undulating, nasal mewing "poooor-mee", or "po-hor-mee". [Link]
Calls: Most commonly heard migratory call, a short "kut" or "knot". Sometimes given in stuttering series. [Link]
Physical details: length=23-25 cm, wingspan=57-61 cm, weight=110-160 g
Habitats: Wetland

Sanderling / Sanderling (Calidris alba)

Sanderling. 2023-09-27 12.12.20 Florida
First observed in Yucatan on 2023-03-27.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: The sanderling (Calidris alba) is a small wading bird. The name derives from Old English sand-yrðling, "sand-ploughman".^[2] The genus name is from Ancient Greek kalidris or skalidris, a term used by Aristotle for some grey-coloured waterside birds. The specific alba is Latin for "white".^[3] [more]
Calls: Call not very diagnostic; a short and soft "pleet" or "keek". [Link]
Physical details: length=20-21 cm, wingspan=40-45 cm, weight=44-70 g
Habitats: Wetland

Dunlin / Alpenstrandläufer (Calidris alpina)

Wikipedia: Dunlin Source: OTHER 1200px-Dunlin_%28Calidris_alpina%29_juvenile.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa.
General: The dunlin (Calidris alpina) is a small wader, sometimes separated with the other "stints" in Erolia. The English name is a dialect form of "dunling", first recorded in 1531–2. It derives from dun, "dull brown", with the suffix -ling, meaning a person or thing with the given quality.^[2] The genus name is from Ancient Greek kalidris or skalidris, a term used by Aristotle for some grey-coloured waterside birds. The specific alpina is from Latin and means "of high mountains", in this case referring to the Alps.^[3] [more]
Song: Song: A drawn out, nasal "tweeet", and ringing variations on the contact call in decrescendo. Low chattering heard from feeding birds. [Link]
Calls: Contact call a diagnostic, very nasal "trrreeet" . Given throughout the year and in many situations, including when being flushed. [Link]
Physical details: length=16-20 cm, wingspan=38-43 cm, weight=35-60 g
Habitats: Wetland

Purple sandpiper / Meerstrandläufer (Calidris maritima)

Wikipedia: Purple sandpiper Source: OTHER 1200px-Calidris_maritima.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast
Song: Song quite varied with series of short, nasal, vibrating sounds, interspersed with drawn out, slower calls. [Link]
Calls: Contact call a hoarse and hard "weet". Sometimes in chattering series. [Link]
Physical details: length=20-22 cm, wingspan=42-46 cm, weight=52-80 g

Whimbrel / Regenbrachvogel (Numenius phaeopus)

Regenbrachvogel oder Grosser Brachvogel - dunkle Schwanzfedern ein moegliches Zeichen. 2022-06-23 16.53.34 La Sauge
First observed in Canary Islands on 2022-03-19.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: Der Regenbrachvogel (Numenius phaeopus) ist mit einer Spannweite um die 80 cm viel kleiner als der Große Brachvogel, auch der Schnabel ist kürzer und der Oberkopf ist hell und dunkel gestreift. Der Ruf dieser Vogelart ähnelt einem hellen Trillern. [more]
Song: Song starts similar to Curlew with long wailing notes "kluuueee", which then accelerates to a continuous, vibrating single note. Lacks the cyclic phrase ending of Curlew. [Link]
Physical details: length=40-42 cm, wingspan=76-89 cm, weight=300-660 g
Habitats: Wetland

Ruddy turnstone / Steinwälzer (Arenaria interpres)

Ruddy turnstone near Las Coloradas. 2023-04-15 10.06.32 Yucatan
First observed in Canary Islands on 2022-03-19.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: The ruddy turnstone (Arenaria interpres) is a small wading bird, one of two species of turnstone in the genus Arenaria. The scientific name is from Latin. The genus name arenaria derives from arenarius, "inhabiting sand, from arena, "sand". The specific interpres means "messenger"; when visiting Gotland in 1741, Linnaeus thought that the Swedish word Tolk "interpreter" applied to this species, but in the local dialect the word means "legs" and is used for the redshank.^[2] [more]
Song: Alarm call/song more "wader-like", a staccato "kuvi-kuvi-vit-vit-vitua". [Link]
Calls: Characteristic call: An explosive, hard, resonant and short "koi" or "kott" with a peculiar timbre, usually given in rapid or accelerating series. [Link]
Physical details: length=22-24 cm, wingspan=50-57 cm, weight=85-150 g
Habitats: Wetland

Common snipe / Bekassine (Gallinago gallinago)

Rechts nach Links - drei Bekassinen, Kiebitz, Krickenten. 2021-10-24 10.34.58 Neeracherried
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-10-24.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL 1
Vocalization: Quite vocal, especially at breeding ground. [Link]
Song: Song an unmistakable bleating, drumming sound produced by vibrating tail feathers in sky-dives. [Link]
Calls: Almost always give diagnostic hoarse and nasal "kaaat" call when flushed. Another territorial call is a rhythmic, mechanical and sharp "tika-tika-tka", or "ika-ka-ka". [Link]
Physical details: length=25-27 cm, wingspan=44-47 cm, weight=80-140 g
Habitats: Wetland

Black-tailed godwit / Uferschnepfe (Limosa limosa)

Wikipedia: Black-tailed godwit Source: OTHER 1200px-Black-tailed_Godwit_Uferschnepfe.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
General: The black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa) is a large, long-legged, long-billed shorebird first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. It is a member of the godwit genus, Limosa. There are three subspecies, all with orange head, neck and chest in breeding plumage and dull grey-brown winter coloration, and distinctive black and white wingbar at all times. [more]
Habitats: Wetland

Common redshank / Rotschenkel (Tringa totanus)

Common redshank plus common pochard. 2022-04-12 14.02.38 Mallorca
First observed in Mallorca on 2022-04-12.
The common redshank or simply redshank (Tringa totanus) is a Eurasian wader in the large family Scolopacidae. The genus name Tringa is the New Latin name given to the green sandpiper by Aldrovandus in 1599 based on Ancient Greek trungas, a thrush-sized, white-rumped, tail-bobbing wading bird mentioned by Aristotle. The specific totanus is from Tótano, the Italian name for this bird.^[2] [more]
Vocalization: Generally a noisy and loud bird, especially at breeding ground. Most heard is a characteristic "tew-hoo", or "tew-hoo-hoo" with first syllable accentuated. No gap between the syllables like Greenshank, and usually with a marked falling pitch. [Link]
Song: Song similar to Wood Sandpiper, but with three accented notes in each cycle, not two. [Link]
Physical details: length=27-29 cm, wingspan=59-66 cm, weight=85-150 g
Habitats: Wetland

Red phalarope / Thorshühnchen (Phalaropus fulicarius)

Wikipedia: Red phalarope Source: OTHER 1200px-Phalaropus_fulicarius_10.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa.
General: The red phalarope or grey phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius) is a small wader. This phalarope breeds in the Arctic regions of North America and Eurasia. It is migratory, and, unusually for a wader, migrating mainly on oceanic routes and wintering at sea on tropical oceans. [more]
Calls: Flight-call a short and sharp, Coot-like "kit". Cleaner and higher pitched than Red-necked Phalarope. Display sound a rolling cooing, at stable pitch. Other calls: a hissing like the squeezing of a rubber duck, rising quickly in pitch and ending abruptly. [Link]
Physical details: length=20-22 cm, wingspan=40-44 cm, weight=40-75 g

Red-necked phalarope / Odinshühnchen (Phalaropus lobatus)

Wikipedia: Red-necked phalarope Source: OTHER 1200px-Red-necked_Phalarope.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: The red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus), also known as the northern phalarope and hyperborean phalarope,^[2] is a small wader. This phalarope breeds in the Arctic regions of North America and Eurasia. It is migratory, and, unusually for a wader, winters at sea on tropical oceans. [more]

Arctic tern / Kü̈stenseeschwalbe (Sterna paradisaea)

Wikipedia: Arctic tern Source: OTHER 1200px-2009_07_02_-_Arctic_tern_on_Farne_Islands_-_The_blue_rope_demarcates_the_visitors%27_path.JPG
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa.
The Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea) is a tern in the family Laridae. This bird has a circumpolar breeding distribution covering the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of Europe, Asia, and North America (as far south as Brittany and Massachusetts). The species is strongly migratory, seeing two summers each year as it migrates along a convoluted route from its northern breeding grounds to the Antarctic coast for the southern summer and back again about six months later. Recent studies have shown average annual roundtrip lengths of about 70,900 km (44,100 mi) for birds nesting in Iceland and Greenland^[3] and about 90,000 km (56,000 mi) for birds nesting in the Netherlands.^[4] These are by far the longest migrations known in the animal kingdom. The Arctic tern flies as well as glides through the air. It nests once every one to three years (depending on its mating cycle); once it has finished nesting it takes to the sky for another long southern migration. [more]
Vocalization: Similar to Common Tern but higher pitched. [Link]
Calls: Typical call a series of high pitched "tip-tip-tip", and longer, ringing, high-pitched "kriiiiii" calls. The drawn out "kree-aaahh" call falls less distinctly in pitch than Common Tern. [Link]
Physical details: length=33-35 cm, wingspan=75-85 cm, weight=95-120 g

Common murre / Trottellumme (Uria aalge)

Wikipedia: Common murre Source: OTHER 1200px-Guillemots_on_Bear_Island_Svalbard_Arctic_%2819659642914%29.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL R
Vocalization: Very coarse and deep voice. [Link]
Calls: Typically rising in pitch, then ending on a prolonged stable note with a laughing quality. Sometimes only the coarse beginning uttered like "ga-ga-ga". [Link]
Physical details: length=38-41 cm, wingspan=64-70 cm, weight=490-863 g

Thick-billed guillemot / Dickschnabellumme (Uria lomvia)

Wikipedia: Thick-billed guillemot Source: OTHER Uria_lomvia1.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General: The thick-billed murre or Brünnich's guillemot (Uria lomvia) is a bird in the auk family (Alcidae). This bird is named after the Danish zoologist Morten Thrane Brünnich. The very deeply black North Pacific subspecies Uria lomvia arra is also called Pallas' murre after its describer. The genus name is from Ancient Greek ouria, a waterbird mentioned by Athenaeus. The species term lomvia is a Swedish word for an auk or diver.^[2] The English "guillemot" is from French guillemot probably derived from Guillaume, "William".^[3] "Murre" is of uncertain origins, but may imitate the call of the common guillemot.^[4] [more]

Razorbill / Tordalk (Alca torda)

Wikipedia: Razorbill Source: OTHER 1200px-Alca_torda_Caithness%2C_Scotland.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel, Wintergast RL R
Vocalization: Very coarse and deep voice. Grunting or snore-like, with little phrasing. Mostly heard at breeding ground, but also sometimes at sea. [Link]
Physical details: length=37-39 cm, wingspan=63-68 cm, weight=524-890 g

Dovekie / Krabbentaucher (Alle alle)

Wikipedia: Dovekie Source: OTHER 1200px-Little_Auk_%28js%29_24.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast
Vocalization: Voice higher pitched than other auks (except Black Guillemot). Trilling, rolling and chattering laughter "kreeee he he he he", or shorter, softer utterances; "ke ke" or "hup hup". [Link]
Physical details: length=17-19 cm, wingspan=40-48 cm, weight=140-190 g

Black guillemot / Gryllteiste (Cepphus grylle)

Wikipedia: Black guillemot Source: OTHER Tystie1.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
Deutschland: seltener Wintergast
Calls: Call surprisingly high pitched. Quite pure, drawn out, plaintive whistling notes in same pitch range as Hazel Grouse. [Link]
Physical details: length=30-32 cm, wingspan=52-58 cm, weight=340-500 g

Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica)

Wikipedia: Atlantic puffin Source: OTHER 1200px-Puffin_%28Fratercula_arctica%29.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
General: The Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica), also known as the common puffin, is a species of seabird in the auk family. It is the only puffin native to the Atlantic Ocean; two related species, the tufted puffin and the horned puffin, are found in the northeastern Pacific. The Atlantic puffin breeds in Québec, Iceland, Norway, Greenland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and the Faroe Islands, and as far south as Maine in the west and France in the east. The Atlantic Puffin is most commonly found on the Westman Islands, Iceland. Although it has a large population and a wide range, the species has declined rapidly, at least in parts of its range, resulting in it being rated as vulnerable by the IUCN. On land, it has the typical upright stance of an auk. At sea, it swims on the surface and feeds mainly on small fish, which it catches by diving under water, using its wings for propulsion. [more]
Vocalization: Deep, but not so coarse as Razorbill. Smoother and more gliding changes in pitch, like a "slow-motion" laugh or distant chainsaw; "aaaahrrr, aahr, ahr arh". [Link]
Physical details: length=26-29 cm, wingspan=47-63 cm, weight=320-480 g

Eurasian oystercatcher / Austernfischer (Haematopus ostralegus)

Eurasian oystercatcher, Iceland. 2015-06-09 14.05.20 Iceland
First observed in Iceland on 2015-06-09.
Etymology: Bbc2: A flock of oyster catchers is a parcel [A nugget from Winterwatch 2022, episode 1, from BBC 2]
Vocalization: Very vocal. [Link]
Calls: Sharp, loud and far carrying, disyllabic or monosyllabic calls "ku-eek" or "kleek". Often works itself up into a crescendos of fast, piping calls, and then mellows out. [Link]
Physical details: length=40-45 cm, wingspan=80-86 cm, weight=430-650 g
Habitats: Wetland

Parasitic jaeger / Schmarotzerraubmöwe (Stercorarius parasiticus)

Our guide raises his arm, which results in the Arctic Skua keeping a safe distance. 2015-06-10 15.13.04 Iceland
First observed in Iceland on 2015-06-10.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: The parasitic jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus), also known as the Arctic skua, Arctic jaeger or parasitic skua, is a seabird in the skua family Stercorariidae. The word "jaeger" is derived from the German word Jäger, meaning "hunter".^[2] The English "skua" comes from the Faroese name skúgvur [ˈskɪkvʊər] for the great skua, with the island of Skúvoy known for its colony of that bird. The general Faroese term for skuas is kjógvi [ˈtʃɛkvə].^[3] The genus name Stercorarius is Latin and means "of dung"; the food disgorged by other birds when pursued by skuas was once thought to be excrement. The specific parasiticus is from Latin and means "parasitic".^[4] [more]
Vocalization: Mostly heard at breeding ground. [Link]
Calls: Most characteristic call is a mewing, kittiwake-like "aeeeee-ah". First syllable drawn-out and rising in pitch, and followed by a deeper conclusive second syllable "ah". Lacks the introductory double accent of Kittiwakes ("kitti-wake"). [Link]
Physical details: length=41-46 cm, wingspan=110-125 cm, weight=330-570 g

Rock pigeons at bay in St Petersburg. 2023-09-23 19.15.24 Florida
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-04-18.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: The rock dove, rock pigeon, or common pigeon (/ˈpɪdʒ.ən/ also /ˈpɪdʒ.ɪn/; Columba livia) is a member of the bird family Columbidae (doves and pigeons).^[3]:624 In common usage, this bird is often simply referred to as the "pigeon". [more]
Vocalization: Not loud. [Link]
Song: Song a two-syllable, but continuous cooing. First a rolling ascending "orrrrrr" immediately followed by a short descending "oohh". Wings produce a quite audible whistling sound. [Link]
Physical details: length=31-34 cm, wingspan=63-70 cm, weight=230-370 g
Habitats: Settlement


Song: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ Source: BirdNet 20210418_155851 birdnet 1445 - Rock Pigeon and Mistle Thrush clatter - Rock Pigeon - Fehraltorf.mp3 2021-04-18 15.58.51 Fehraltorf (song)

Merlin SoundID bird list. Source: OTHER Merlin SoundID bird list.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa.
Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast
Vocalization: Series of harsh "kwik-wik wik". Coarseness similar to Peregrine, but pace much quicker. [Link]
Calls: Female call harsher than male. Lacking the clearer tones and attack of Kestrel. [Link]
Physical details: length=25-30 cm, wingspan=50-62 cm, weight=125-300 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Wikipedia: Gyrfalcon Source: OTHER Falco_rusticolus_white_cropped.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General: The gyrfalcon (/ˈdʒɜːrfɔːlkən/ or /ˈdʒɜːrfælkən/) (Falco rusticolus), the largest of the falcon species, is a bird of prey. The abbreviation gyr is also used.^[2] It breeds on Arctic coasts and tundra, and the islands of northern North America and the Eurosiberian region. It is mainly a resident there also, but some gyrfalcons disperse more widely after the breeding season, or in winter. Individual vagrancy can take birds for long distances. Its plumage varies with location, with birds being coloured from all-white to dark brown. These colour variations are called morphs. Like other falcons, it shows sexual dimorphism, with the female much larger than the male. For centuries, the gyrfalcon has been valued as a hunting bird. Typical prey includes the ptarmigan and waterfowl, which it may take in flight; it also takes fish and mammals. [more]
Vocalization: A coarse, drawn out, Peregrine-like "kaaawt", with emphasis on ending, is repeated in series. Much slower paced than in small falcons, and deeper and with different attack than in Peregrine. [Link]
Calls: Also shorter, coarse warning-calls. [Link]
Physical details: length=50-60 cm, wingspan=130-160 cm, weight=805-2100 g

Wikipedia: Red-throated loon Source: OTHER 1200px-Gavia_Stellata_%C3%96lfus%C3%A1_20090606.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast
Habitats: River and lake

Great northern loon, Squam Lake, New Hampshire. 2023-10-06 12.26.58 New England
First observed in New England on 2023-10-06.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
Deutschland: seltener Wintergast
Song: Song: Like a slow Black-throated Diver. Pitch slowly rising with a register break, progressing into a cyclic, two to four syllable, motif. [Link]
Calls: Also various vibrating eerie descending calls. Often used as sound effect in horror movies. [Link]
Physical details: length=69-91 cm, wingspan=69-91 cm, weight=3600-4480 g

Horned grebe, Myvatn, Iceland. 2015-06-05 11.22.28 Iceland
First observed in Iceland on 2015-06-05.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL 1
Vocalization: Varied. Vibrating, wailing, dry and cackling sequences. A mewing, falling and far-reaching "kiaa" and various rattling sounds. [Link]
Physical details: length=31-38 cm, wingspan=46-55 cm, weight=364-449 g
Habitats: River and lake

Wikipedia: Manx shearwater Source: OTHER 1200px-Manx_Shearwater.JPG
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
General: The Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) is a medium-sized shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae. The scientific name of this species records a name shift: Manx shearwaters were called Manks puffins in the 17th century. Puffin is an Anglo-Norman word (Middle English pophyn) for the cured carcasses of nestling shearwaters. The Atlantic puffin acquired the name much later, possibly because of its similar nesting habits. [more]
Vocalization: Vocal at breeding ground. [Link]
Calls: The call is sharp and wailing, and consist of two parts. A drawn, "inhalation", is immediately followed by a trisyllabic "ka-ya-ya". [Link]
Physical details: length=31-36 cm, wingspan=76-88 cm, weight=375-459 g

Wikipedia: Northern fulmar Source: OTHER Fulmarus_glacialis_Cornwall_UK.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL R
Vocalization: Mostly heard on breeding ground. [Link]
Calls: Coarse, harsh, staccato calls when courting or quarrelling. [Link]
Physical details: length=45-50 cm, wingspan=102-112 cm, weight=610-1000 g

Wikipedia: Leach's storm-petrel Source: OTHER 1200px-Lesp1.jpg
General: Leach's storm petrel or Leach's petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) is a small seabird of the tubenose order. It is named after the British zoologist William Elford Leach. The scientific name is derived from Ancient Greek. Oceanodroma is from okeanos, "ocean" and dromos, "runner", and leucorhoa is from leukos, "white" and orrhos, "rump".^[2] [more]

Wikipedia: European storm-petrel Source: OTHER 1200px-European_Storm_Petrel_From_The_Crossley_ID_Guide_Eastern_Birds.jpg
The European storm petrel, British storm petrel, or just storm petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) is a seabird in the northern storm petrel family, Hydrobatidae. It is the only member of the genus Hydrobates. The small, square-tailed bird is entirely black except for a broad, white rump and a white band on the under wings, and it has a fluttering, bat-like flight. The large majority of the population breeds on islands off the coasts of Europe, with the greatest numbers in the Faroe Islands, United Kingdom, Ireland, and Iceland. The Mediterranean population is a separate subspecies, but is inseparable at sea from its Atlantic relatives; its strongholds are Filfla Island (Malta), Sicily, and the Balearic Islands. [more]
Vocalization: Heard at breeding ground. Dry, cyclic, rattling and cooing, interrupted by deeper nasal moaning or a higher pitched "kee-ee-kee", with emphasis on second syllable. [Link]
Physical details: length=14-18 cm, wingspan=36-39 cm, weight=23-30 g

Wikipedia: Short-eared owl Source: OTHER 1200px-Hibou_des_marais.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
Deutschland: Brut-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL 1
Habitats: Wetland

Wikipedia: Rock ptarmigan Source: OTHER 1200px-Rock_Ptarmigan_%28Lagopus_Muta%29.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel RL R
Vocalization: Female has similar sounds, but is higher pitched and not so coarse as male. [Link]
Calls: Call of male a very distinct "rrrrrrr", being a rattling rapid pulse of clicks, like running a stick along a picket fence. [Link]
Physical details: length=34-36 cm, wingspan=54-60 cm, weight=350-600 g
Habitats: Mountain