Page 435 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

SKUAS, GULLS,AND TERNS/AUKS/SANDGROUSE
Family Sternidae Species Chlidonias leucopterus Family Alcidae Species Uria lomvia
White-winged Black Tern Brünnich’s Guillemot
The three Chlidonias terns, Black,Whiskered Extremely like a Guillemot (see p.229), Brünnich’s is
(see pp.224, 225), and White-winged Black, are the more thickset and thicker-billed, with a white streak
“marsh” terns; this is the smallest and dumpiest, with a along the gape and a pointed white breast against the
slightly quicker flight action than the other two. In dark foreneck (rounded on Guillemot). Its flanks are
summer, it is boldly black with white wings and tail; pure white, not streaked. In winter, the head is dark
autumn juveniles have a dark back, pale wings, whitish to below the eye, without the dark eye-stripe of a
rump, and clean white breast sides (no dark spot as on Guillemot or the white patch behind the eye of
Black); winter adults are much paler, with a Razorbill (which it otherwise resembles, see p.230).
whitish rumps. It looks the most solid, short-necked, and deep-bellied
OCCURRENCE Breeds in E Europe, of the auks in flight.
rare migrant elsewhere, mostly OCCURRENCE Breeds in Iceland, far
in autumn. N Scandinavia; vagrant in NW Europe.
VOICE Short, simple, squeaky VOICE Crow-like growling notes.
kek notes in flight.
ADULT (SUMMER)
white
stripe on
black black bill
upper-
parts
white
white tail forewings
ADULT (SUMMER)
Length 20–24cm (8–9 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 50–56cm (20–22in) Length 40–44cm (16–17 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 64–75cm (25–30in)

Family Pteroclididae Species Pterocles orientalis Family Pteroclididae Species Pterocles alchata
Black-bellied Sandgrouse Pin-tailed Sandgrouse
Sandgrouse are pigeon-like in form, partridge-like in Slimmer than the Black-bellied Sandgrouse, the Pin-
plumage, with tiny bills, short legs, long, tapered wings, tailed has a fine tail spike,a bright white belly,and white
and long tails.The Black-bellied has a short tail, and is underwings with bold black tips (like Black-bellied).
chunky, with an obvious bold black underside and On the ground, the face looks rufous with a black eye-
white underwings with black tips. On the ground, the stripe, the breast narrowly banded with black, the back
male’s plain face and breast (one narrow bar at the beautifully spotted (male) or barred (female) with buff
lower edge) are distinctive; the back is in a delicate and complex pattern. Large flocks visit
spotted on the male and closely barred in pools to drink each morning.
a complex pattern on the spotted female. OCCURRENCE Rare breeder in C and
Black-bellied Sandgrouse are shy; they fly S Spain, very rare in S France, in arid,
long distances each morning to drink. stony areas. spotted
OCCURRENCE Breeds in C and VOICE In flight, rhythmic, back
S Spain,Turkey, in wide open, grating, descending cata-
dry plains. cata or rrria-rrria.
VOICE Rolling, bubbling
flight call, fast trill MALE
slowing to stutter.

FEMALE

black underside

Length 30–35cm (12–14in) Wingspan 60–65cm (23 1 ⁄2 –26in) Length 28–32cm (11–12 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 55–63cm (22–25in)
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