Occurs in dark and pale morph. Plumage recalling gulls more than shearwaters (especially pale morph). Differs from shearwaters in white or pale head, compact body, short and heavy bill and broad wings. Flight pattern distinguishes it from gulls, and is similar to other tubenoses. Glides on stiff wings with occasional bursts of shallow and stiff wing-beats. Pale base of primaries visible at considerable distance in both dark and pale morph. Dark morph most common in high-arctic areas, pale morph most common in southern breeding range.

Mostly heard on breeding ground. Coarse, harsh, staccato calls when courting or quarrelling.

Social interaction:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Birdlife ecology

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

Sounds:Recorded by Stein Ø. Nilsen,http://www.xeno-canto.org ,CC license