Appearance:

A social, compact, buff bird with full crest, short neck, black bib, black mask and red wax-like extensions to secondaries. Tips of primaries and tail yellow. May be confused with starling when seen in silhouette or when flying, but note fuller head, rounder and more compact body and shorter bill. Flight includes frequent glides, even when changing directions. Not very shy in winter. Hunts insects in flycatcher-like manner in summer.

Sound:

Contact call weak, but distinct and typically alert one to the presence of a flock. A thin, high pitched, ringing "tzrrrrrrr". Song more or less a variation on the contact call.

Contact call:

Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

Sounds:Recorded by Rob van Bemmelenhttp://www.xeno-canto.org/CC license

Appearance:

Largely unmistakable where other species of starlings don't occur. Shiny, glossy black/dark-green plumage, speckled with white dots. Yellow bill, and pinkish legs. Juveniles brownish with light throat. As they age, winter plumage breaks through the juvenile feathers, creating large dark patches with white spots. These birds frequently puzzles new birders as they are commonly seen, but often not listed in bird guides. Starlings are easily recognized on the ground by their walking gait. Flight profile also characteristic with short sharp-cornered tail and short pointed wings. May be mistaken for a Waxwing when seen in silhouette.

Sound:

Among the best of imitators. Mimics birds, animals and mechanical noises. Song a highly varied mix of falling whistles, bill-clappering and various masterful mimicry. Often makes several sounds at the same time. Other calls; a harsh "chaee" and a short sharp "tink".

Song:

Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC