– Firecrests utter a lot of different calls during bird migration – the multi-syllable ‘SeSeSeSe’ often is regarded as flight call – but the normal flight call is a monosyllabic W-shaped ‘TSETT’. – timbre not unlike Willow and Marsh Tit, only softer and quieter – the call is slightly variable – shape and timbre surprisingly different from Goldcrest
Firecrest Regulus i. ignicapilla, flight call BIF3633, 06/01/2018, Profen, Germany, Patrick Franke
Firecrest Regulus i. ignicapilla, flight call BIF3634, 03/03/2017, Leipzig, Germany, Patrick Franke
Firecrest Regulus i. ignicapilla, flight call BIF3635, 04/02/2018, Zichtau, Germany, Patrick Franke
Firecrest Regulus i. ignicapilla, flight call BIF3636, 04/02/2018, Zichtau, Germany, Patrick Franke
– tiny passerine, smallest bird in the WP
– nocturnal migrant, short distance diurnal movements (‘Schleichzug’)
– migrates singly or in small, very loose flocks
>> VISUAL ID >>>>>
Goldcrest Regulus r. regulus
BIF0229, 24/10/2012, North Sea, offshore, Germany, Mathias Putze
– tiny, olive-green with fairly short, notched tail
Goldcrest Regulus r. regulus, presumably F
BIF0268, 05/10/2014, North Sea, offshore, Germany, Mathias Putze
– yellow crown with black lateral crown-stripes at times recognisable even in flight
Goldcrest Regulus r. regulus
BIF0269, 05/10/2014, North Sea, offshore, Germany, Mathias Putze
– whitish wing bar
Goldcrest Regulus r. regulus
BIF0270, 05/10/2014, North Sea, offshore, Germany, Mathias Putze
Goldcrest Regulus r. regulus
BIF0271, 05/10/2014, North Sea, offshore, Germany, Mathias Putze
– rather short and rounded wings
Goldcrest Regulus r. regulus, AD M
BIF3642, 04/04/2019, North Sea, offshore, Germany, Patrick Franke
– M by orange crown feathers lurking through the yellow top feathers
Goldcrest Regulus r. regulus, AD M
BIF3644, 04/04/2019, North Sea, offshore, Germany, Patrick Franke
Goldcrest Regulus r. regulus
BIF3643, 04/04/2019, North Sea, offshore, Germany, Patrick Franke
– at distance very stout and compact silhouette
>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>
– Goldcrests utter a lot of different calls during bird migration
– the multi-syllable ‘SeSeSeSe’ often is regarded as flight call
– but the normal flight call is the monosyllabic underslur ‘TSIP’.
– timbre not unlike Meadow Pipit, only softer and quieter
– the call is not very variable, but in large flocks variants are often heard (plastic calls by 1CY birds?)
– surprisingly different from the Firecrest by the shape and timbre
– overview –
– detail – Goldcrest Regulus r. regulus, flight & social calls during migration
BIF3641, 17/10/2020, Mertensdorf, Germany, Patrick Franke
– overview –
– detail – Goldcrest Regulus r. regulus, flight & social calls in flight
BIF3640, 26/01/2021, Kehrberg, Germany, Patrick Franke
– detail – Goldcrest Regulus r. regulus, flight call
BIF3639, 10/02/2018, Mannhausen, Germany, Patrick Franke
– overview –
– detail – Goldcrest Regulus r. regulus, calls during migration
BIF3638, 10/10/2017, Kühlungsborn, Germany, Patrick Franke
– overview –
– detail – Goldcrest Regulus r. regulus, flight & social calls during migration
BIF0230, 11/10/2008, Greifswalder Oie, Germany, Patrick Franke
– medium-sized wader, slightly larger than European Golden Plover
– Central Asian origin, very rare vagrant to WP
– diurnal/nocturnal migrant
– migrates singly or in small, rather dense flocks
>> VISUAL ID >>>>>
White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus, AD
BIF3603, 02/06/2018, Baliqcilar, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß
– brownish grey mantle, neck and crown, slightly contrasting grey face
– slender and pointed black bill, a tad longer than in Sociable Lapwing
– very long yellow legs, a large part of the tarsus protrudes the tail -> Grey-headed Lapwing
White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus, AD
BIF3603, 01/03/2010, Bilesuvar, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß
– pure white tail
– white band separates black hand and bronwnish grey mantle -> missing in Sociable Lapwing
– uniform brownish grey mantle, while JUV/1CY show pale fringes
White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus, AD
BIF3605, 02/06/2018, Baliqcilar, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß
– plain grey brown throat and upper breast, narrow black breast band sharply contrasting to white belly
– lacks the black eye stripe of Sociable Lapwing
– dark eyes in AD and 1CY
White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus, AD
BIF3606, 01/03/2010, Bilesuvar, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß
– blacks primaries, white secondaries, outer secondaries with black tips
– narrow black line on inner arm separates brown mantle from white secondaries
White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus, AD
BIF3607, 01/06/2018, Salyan, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß
– white band on the wing reaches the leading edge (cf. Sociable Lapwing)
Vanellus leucurus, AD
BIF3608, 01/06/2018, Salyan, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß
White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus, AD
BIF3607, 01/06/2018, Salyan, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß
– even at great distance, tri-coloured upperwings, pure white underwings and long legs are good pointers
>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>
– in flight usually a distinctive broadband, nasal piping call
– all three parts (overslur/upslur/overslur) broadly modulated
– many inharmonic partials
– overview –
– detail – White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus, call in flight
BIF3601, 12/04/2011, Komsomolskoe, Kazakhstan, Patrick Franke
– overview –
– detail – White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus, call in flight Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus, call in flight Black-crowned Nightheron Nycticorax nycticorax, call in flight Common Quail Coturnix coturnix, calls
BIF3602, 13/08/2021, Randwotal, Germany, Steve Klasan
– overview –
– detail – White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus, call during migration
BIF2550, 29/05/2012, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß
– medium-sizded wader, about the size of Northern Lapwing
– breeder in SE Europe, vagrant to W Europe
– nocturnal/diurnal migrant
– migrates singly or in small, rather dense flocks
>> VISUAL ID >>>>>
Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus, AD
BIF3622, 10/02/2014, Entebbe, Uganda, Mathias Putze
– black crown and forehead, extended white cheeks
– steep forehead, black bill and dark red eyes
– small spur ‘thumbs’ at carpal joint (wrist)
Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus, AD
BIF3628, 26/03/2019, Israel, Michael Heiß
– contrasty black and white from below
– black chin and breast stripe, black belly and flanks, white vent
Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus, AD
BIF3629, 26/03/2019, Israel, Michael Heiß
– pure white underwing coverts contrasting to black remiges
– long legs, feet protrude the tail
Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus, AD
BIF3622, 10/02/2014, Entebbe, Uganda, Mathias Putze
– greyisch brown mantle seperated from black remiges and primary coverts by white wing bar
– white rump and black rectrices (two outermost with small white tips)
Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus, AD
BIF3623, 10/02/2014, Queen Elizabeth National Parc, Uganda, Mathias Putze
– white wing bar reaches the leading edge (same in White-tailed Lapwing and Grey-headed Lapwing)
Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus, AD
BIF3625, 10/02/2014, Queen Elizabeth National Parc, Uganda, Mathias Putze
– at distance told from Sociable Lapwing by black secondaries and largely black tail
– small spurs at carpal joint (wrist) can be seen best against light backgrounds
>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>
– very vocal
– nevertheless may not have a separate flight or migration call
– often heard in flight a piercing, very short impulsive steep upslur
– main energy between 1 and 7 kHz
– monophonic
– many evenly spaced inharmonic partials
– overview –
– detail – Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus, call in flight Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis, song Crested Lark Galerida cristata, song
BIF3630, 27/04/2012, Sandafa al Far, Egypt, Patrick Franke
– medium-sized wader
– size of a small dove, appears bigger in flight due to very broad, rounded wings
– nocturnal/diurnal migrant
– migrates singly or (more regular) in small to large, rather dense flocks
>> VISUAL ID >>>>>
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, M AD
BIF2209, 04/06/2015, Dankmarshausen, Germany, Martin Grimm
– unique wing shape with bulging primaries
– black wings, dark olive mantle, black and white tail
– sexed as M by four pale-tipped outer primaries (only three pale-tipped in F)
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, M
BIF0314, 29/04/2013, Pritzwalk, Germany, Mathias Putze
– pure white inner underwing covert contrasting to black remiges and primary coverts
– black throat and breast sharply contrasting to white belly and flanks
– rusty red vent
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, F
BIF0312, 20/08/2009, North Sea, Mathias Putze
– contrasty head with steep forehead and short bill
– sexed as F by all black 7th primary (counting outwards)
– some outer primaries missing due to moult
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
BIF0315, 20/08/2009, North Sea, offshore, Germany, Mathias Putze
same as BIF0312
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
BIF0987, 12/03/2016, North Sea, offhore, Mathias Putze
– at greater distance readily identified by wing shape and lack of white upperwing markings of the other Lapwings
– utters a variety of different calls in flight
– on long-distance flights (at night/daytime) a distinctive polysyllabic call is often heard
– narrow modulated, many inharmonic partials but monophonic; towards the end overlapped by a very dense broadband noise (second voice box?)
– when excited sometimes a double syllable call, not unlike Bar-tailed Godwit or Red Knot
– overview –
– detail – Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, call in flight
BIF3631, 04/04/2020, Streng, Germany, Patrick Franke
– overview –
– detail – Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, calls in flight
BIF0338, 09/06/2013, Tsagaan Nuur, Mongolia, Patrick Franke
– detail – Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, call in flight
BIF0339, 30/08/2013, Seelhausener See, Germany, Patrick Franke
– rather large anatid, slightly larger than Mallard
– diurnal migrant, probably also nocturnal
– migrates pairwise or in small to medium flocks in formation
>> VISUAL ID >>>>>
Goosander Mergus m. merganser, F AD (two uppermost), 1CY
BIF1634, 14/10/2013, Wermsdorf, Germany, Mathias Putze
aging is easier in direct comparison
– JUV paler overall
– diffuser border between head and neck (similar to Red-breasted Merganser, BIF1971)
– pale lores and bill
Goosander Mergus m. merganser, F AD (centre), 1CY
BIF1636, 14/10/2013, Wermsdorf, Germany, Mathias Putze
– from this angle aging is more difficult but note sharp contrasting, whiter chin of AD
Goosander Mergus m. merganser, F probably 2CY
BIF1909, 16/05/2011, Choolbasan, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– similar to F AD -> Red-breasted Merganser but heavier with bulkier head and neck
– sharp contrast between rusty-brown head and grey neck
– wing with pure white speculum
– dark hand contrasting to grey arm
Goosander Mergus m. merganser, M AD BREED
BIF1630, 14/01/2017, Rügen, Germany, Mathias Putze
– much bulkier head and neck than -> Red-breasted Merganser (BIF1966)
– dark red bill with distict hook
– pure white inner-wing with only narrow grey leading edge and dark hand
Goosander Mergus m. merganser, M AD BREED
BIF1631, 14/01/2017, Rügen, Germany, Mathias Putze
– black head with dark eye sharply contrasting with completely white underside -> Red-breasted Merganser (BIF1967)
– feet do not reach the tail tip
Goosander Mergus m. merganser, M AD BREED
BIF1632, 14/01/2017, Rügen, Germany, Mathias Putze
– black scapulars and grey back, same in M AD Red-breasted Merganser
Goosander Mergus m. merganser, M F AD BREED
BIF1633, 28/05/2014, Oendorchan, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
Goosander Mergus m. merganser, M F
BIF1635, 01/02/2010, Leipzig, Germany, Mathias Putze
– from below rounded tail and duck-like silhouette
– bill slender and pointed
– white secondaries
Goosander Mergus m. merganser, M F AD BREED
BIF1637, 14/01/2017, Rügen Germany, Mathias Putze
– in phases of gliding wings bent downwards (left M)
Goosander Mergus m. merganser, M AD BREED
BIF1639, 14/01/2017, Rügen, Germany, Mathias Putze
– underside of AD M can appear peachy-white
Goosander Mergus m. merganser, M F AD BREED
BIF3486, 21/01/2021, Blankensee, Germany, Patrick Franke
Goosander Mergus merganser, M 2CY
BIF1641, 14/01/2017, Rügen, Germany, Mathias Putze
– white on wing coverts indicate M
– medium-sized anatid, about size of Mallard but slimmer
– diurnal migrant, probably also nocturnal
– migrates pairwise or in small to medium flocks in formation
>> VISUAL ID >>>>>
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator, AD M
BIF1966, 01/02/2017, Darss, Germany, Martin Grimm
– slim silhouette with long neck and thin bill
– white inner wing with two thin black lines, broad black leading edge and black hand -> Goosander (BIF 1630)
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator, AD M
BIF1967, 01/02/2017, Darss, Germany, Martin Grimm
– red bill slightly upcurved without hook
– flanks greyish (upper flank black with white patches)
– feet almost reach tail tip -> Goosander (BIF 1631)
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator, AD M
BIF2893, 30/03/2018, Rerik, Germany, Roland Neumann
– black head
– distinct white collar and dark streaked redish-brown upper breast
– white underwing (black in Common Goldeneye) with translucent secondaries
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator, AD M F
BIF2894, 30/03/2018, Rerik, Germany, Roland Neumann
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator, F AD (two left), M AD, M 2CY (right)
BIF1972, 15/03/2017, Kühlungsborn, Roland Neumann
– M 2CY head black-brown patterned, upper flanks darker than F
– upperwing pattern of 2CY M same as F with fine black line in white wing patch (usually missing in F -> Goosander)
– no contrast between hand and arm
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator, F AD (two left), M AD, M 2CY (right)
BIF1971, 15/03/2017, Kühlungsborn, Roland Neumann
same as BIF1972
– brown head of F diffusely merging into grey neck (sharp contrast in F -> Goosander)
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator, 5 M AD
BIF1973, 15/03/2017, Kühlungsborn, Roland Neumann
– at greater distance the white collar is the most striking feature
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator, 5 M ECLIPSED
BIF1638, 23/09/2010, Baltic Sea, Germany, Mathias Putze
– like F but diagnostic M wing pattern (compare BIF1966)
– medium-sized passerine, slightly larger than a sparrow
– most populations sedentary, diurnal migrant in colder parts of range in continental Europe
– migrates singly or (more regularly) in small flocks
>> VISUAL ID >>>>>
–
>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>
– flight call a polyphonic short, sharp ‘tsip’ reminiscent of other buntings or Song Thrush
– social call a polyphonic short, less sharp, steep downslur, reminiscent of Hawfinch
Cirl Bunting Emberiza c. cirlus, flight call
BIF3543, 21/07/2021, Kaiserstuhl, Germany, Patrick Franke
Cirl Bunting Emberiza c. cirlus, flight call
BIF3544, 21/07/2021, Kaiserstuhl, Germany, Patrick Franke
Cirl Bunting Emberiza c. cirlus, flight call, social call (by a second, perched bird)
BIF3545, 21/07/2021, Kaiserstuhl, Germany, Patrick Franke
Cirl Bunting Emberiza c. cirlus, flight call
BIF3546, 21/07/2021, Kaiserstuhl, Germany, Patrick Franke
Cirl Bunting Emberiza c. cirlus, flight call, social call (by a second, perched bird)
BIF3547, 21/07/2021, Kaiserstuhl, Germany, Patrick Franke
– small passerine, slightly larger than House Sparrow
– nocturnal/diurnal migrant
– migrates singly or in very loose, small flocks
>> VISUAL ID >>>>>
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe ssp., F or 1CY
BIF3147, 18/10/2017, Helgoland, Germany, Roland Neumann
– rather featureless pale grey-brown bird with blackish, narrow ochre fringed remiges
– typical head pattern of F and 1CY birds (M show a black eye mask and are greyer)
– the white rump and base of the rectrices are the striking feature (but beware of other rarer Oenanthe sp.)
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe ssp.
BIF3149, 07/09/2014, North Sea, offshore, Mathias Putze
– fairly long and pointed wings
– underwing coverts are off-white
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe ssp.
BIF3149, 07/09/2014, North Sea, offshore, Mathias Putze
– also from below the black terminal tail bar contrasting to the white tail base is a good feature
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe ssp.
BIF3150, 07/09/2014, North Sea, offshore, Mathias Putze
– rather short tail
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe ssp., AD M
BIF3152, 20/09/2014, North Sea, offshore, Mathias Putze
– in autumn the black eye mask makes it an AD M, after postbreeding moult M are warmer coloured than in spring
– is supposed to be non-vocal on migration
– no reliable evidence about true flight calls
– excitement calls can be heard near man-made structures (e.g. offshore facilities)
– detail – – overview – Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe ssp., M, excitement calls, calls in flight
BIF3154, 08/05/2016, Mounthooley, Great Britain, Patrick Franke
>> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>>
– other Wheatear species
– Whinchat
– Stonechat complex
– tiny passerine, distinctly smaller than House Sparrow
– probably mainly diurnal migrant
– migrates singly or in small, loose flocks
– very vocal
>> VISUAL ID >>>>>
Eurasian Penduline Tit Remiz p. pendulinus, AD prob. M
BIF3358, 15/06/2017, Havelland, Germany, Mathias Putze
– very small bird with plain buffish underside
– fairly short, slightly notched tail
Eurasian Penduline Tit Remiz p. pendulinus, AD prob. M
BIF3360, 15/06/2017, Havelland, Germany, Mathias Putze
– grey head with black mask, chestnut back and grey tail resemble the much larger Red-backed Shrike
Eurasian Penduline Tit Remiz p. pendulinus, AD prob. M
BIF3359, 15/06/2017, Havelland, Germany, Mathias Putze
– wings quite short and rounded
– very pointed bill
>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>
– very vocal
– rather unobtrusive due to thin, a bit ringing tone quality
– series of slightly downslurred simple elements
– steep rise at the end creates a percussive impression
– monophonic
– evenly spaces inharmonic partials
– 1st partial between 6-7 kHz
DETAIL Eurasian Penduline Tit Remiz p. pendulinus, AD M, flight calls
BIF3356, 31/05/2020, Linum, Germany, Patrick Franke
DETAIL Eurasian Penduline Tit Remiz p. pendulinus, AD M, flight calls
BIF3357, 31/05/2020, Linum, Germany, Patrick Franke
