LITTLE GREBE Tachybaptus ruficollis

LITTLE GREBE Tachybaptus ruficollis

Dabchick

L 25–29 cm, WS 40–45 cm.
 

IDENTIFICATION 

Smallest and dumpiest grebe, with relatively small, rounded head and small, weak bill often showing very obvious pale gape patch. Swims buoyantly, with blunt whitish stern which is often fluffed up and conspicuous. When alarmed, may partly submerge until only head showing. Adult summer distinguished by chestnut cheeks, throat and foreneck contrasting with otherwise dark brown plumage and pale yellow gape patch. Adult winter/Juvenile distinguished by rather uniform appearance: buff cheeks, throat, foreneck and flanks do not contrast greatly with brown crown, hindneck and upperparts. 

Gape patch not obvious. May be confused with Blacknecked and to a lesser degree Horned, but is smaller, distinctly buff (not greyish or whitish) on foreneck and flanks, with shorter neck (although neck can look quite long when fully erect) and straighter bill, and, compared with Black-necked, has flatter crown (high and peaked in Black-necked) and blunter stern (especially compared with Horned). Even more like vagrant Pied-billed Grebe (q.v.). In flight, typically shows drab brownish upperwing, sometimes with narrow, paler trailing edge to secondaries or at most (in some individuals or races) a dull whitish panel on secondaries. All other grebes, apart from vagrant Pied-billed, have conspicuous white patches on upperwing. 

SEX/AGE 

Juvenile resembles adult winter, but has dark stripes on face and neck. Neck and breast often tinged rufous-brown.

VOICE 

On breeding grounds, gives a distinctive high, shrill, trilling whinny, often rising and falling and not unlike call of Whimbrel. Also a variety of other twittering calls, a sharp metallic alarm call, ‘whit, whit’, and a short, high-pitched contact call, ‘beeh-ib’. 

GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATION 

Slight. 3 races (nominate and capensis illustrated). Races capensis (Egypt, Caucasus to Armenia) and iraquensis (Iraq), especially the former, show more white on secondaries than typical individuals of nominate race.

STATUS/HABITAT 

Common. (In addition to mapped range, has bred Finland, Cyprus.) In breeding season, lakes and slow-flowing rivers with emergent vegetation, and marshes with open water. At other times, also on more open lakes, estuaries and, in some areas, sheltered coastal waters.

PIED-BILLED GREBE Podilymbus podiceps

PIED-BILLED GREBE Podilymbus podiceps

L 31–38 cm, WS 56–64 cm.
 

IDENTIFICATION 

Transatlantic vagrant. Stocky, medium-sized grebe with relatively large and chunky head, thick, stubby bill, stout neck and very blunt stern. Neck long when erect, but head often carried low on shoulders. Wary: sometimes swims with body either partly or wholly submerged when alarmed, or even with just bill showing. Adult summer distinguished by large and chunky head, thick, stubby, whitish bill with black band (that contrasts with greyish- brown face and neck and black throat patch), whitish eye-ring, and conspicuous white undertail coverts contrasting with dark upperparts and flanks.

Adult winter/Juvenile lacks black band on bill. Distinguished by large and chunky head, thick, stubby, yellowish to dusky-grey bill, whitish eye-ring (not present in juvenile), whitish throat contrasting with warm,
rufous-brown face, neck, breast and flanks (these areas dull brownish, striped with white on face and neck, in juvenile), and conspicuous white undertail coverts (somewhat less so in juvenile) contrasting with dark upperparts and flanks. Most similar to adult winter Little Grebe, which is noticeably smaller overall, with smaller, more rounded head, darker and slimmer bill, buffer throat and usually pale greyish-brown undertail coverts (although these are whitish in some individuals). In flight, Pied-billed shows all-dark upperwings (without the obvious white patches shown by all other grebes except Little). At most shows narrow pale trailing edge on secondaries. 

SEX/AGE 

Juvenile separable (see above).

VOICE  

On breeding grounds, has a loud, resonant, hollow rattling call, at first fast, then slower and ending with a plaintive wail: ‘kow-kow-kow-kow-kow-kow-kowkow-kowk-kowk-kowk-kowk-kowk-kowk-wherrr’.

STATUS/HABITAT  

Vagrant (W Europe, Azores). Freshwater lakes with emergent vegetation and marshes with some open water. Outside breeding season also on more open lakes and estuaries.

YELKOUAN SHEARWATER Puffinus yelkouan

YELKOUAN SHEARWATER Puffinus yelkouan

Mediterranean Shearwater, Levantine Shearwater; Balearic Shearwater (P. y. mauretanicus)
L 30–38 cm, WS 76–89 cm.

IDENTIFICATION 

Medium-sized shearwater with marked geographic variation in appearance. Flight action as Manx (q.v.), but tends to look more ponderous and fluttering (perhaps mainly owing to calm conditions in which it is often seen). Does not often follow ships but scavenges at trawlers. Often forms rafts. Yelkouan Shearwater (nominate race) distinguished from all other species (apart from Manx, Little and Audubon’s, q.v.) by blackish-brown upperparts contrasting sharply with almost wholly white underparts and underwing (latter being dark only on wingtip, trailing edge and band across secondary coverts). 

Differs from very similar Manx in having browner upperparts, some brown on flanks, axillaries and undertail coverts, a diagonal brown band across underwing coverts, shorter tail and deeper-chested appearance (but Manx, especially worn birds, can look brownish above in strong light). Feet are proportionately larger and extend slightly beyond tail, tending to cancel out shorter-tailed appearance at long range. Balearic Shearwater (race mauretanicus) similar to nominate Yelkouan in having browner upperparts, shorter tail and deeper-chested appearance than Manx, but is also somewhat larger with a more attenuated body, longer wings and greater feet projection beyond tail. 

Also has quite variable underpart coloration: some resemble nominate Yelkouan (and thus are rather like Manx below, but with dark flanks, axillaries and undertail coverts and a diagonal dark band across underwing coverts), many differ in having a broad dusky breast band, still others have extensive brownish below and some are all brown apart from some whitish on throat, centre of belly and centre of underwing. Whitish areas are typically tinged dirty buff and boundary between dark and pale areas is diffuse. Feet extend significantly beyond tail tip, thus tending to cancel out shortertailed appearance than in Manx. Distant pale mauretanicus could be confused with Cory’s (q.v.), while darkest could be confused with Sooty (q.v.).

VOICE 

On breeding grounds voice apparently rather similar to Manx (q.v.). Usually silent at sea.

TAXONOMY W 

Mediterranean form mauretanicus is probably best treated as a full species, Balearic Shearwater. Previously, both forms were lumped in Manx Shearwater P. puffinus.

GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATION 

Marked. 2 races (both illustrated). See Identification.

MANX SHEARWATER Puffinus puffinus

MANX SHEARWATER Puffinus puffinus

L 31–36 cm, WS 76–85 cm.
 

IDENTIFICATION 

Medium-sized shearwater. The commonest species in NW Europe. Flight fast, with series of rapid, shallow, stiff-winged beats close to water followed by low glide, often swinging from side to side. Typically holds wings rather straight. In stronger winds progression mostly by gliding with wings flexed back, rising above skyline in shallow (sometimes high) arcs. Does not often follow ships but scavenges at trawlers.

Often forms rafts. Manx distinguished from all other species (apart from Yelkouan, Little and Audubon’s, q.v.) by blackish upperparts contrasting sharply with almost wholly white underparts and underwing (the latter being dark only on wingtip and trailing edge). Confusion most likely with very similar Yelkouan. 

VOICE 

On breeding grounds typically a loud, raucous, cackling and crooning ‘cack-cack-cack-carrooo’, but much variation in pitch, making calls often sound squealing or howling. Usually silent at sea. 

STATUS/HABITAT 

Common. (Map note: in summer marine range extends from S coast of Iceland east to N coast of Norway and south through Atlantic and North Sea to Azores and Canary Is. Almost all winter off S America. Breeding areas seemingly mapped for mainland coasts generally refer to nearby offshore islands.) Breeds in burrows and crevices on slopes and flat tops of islands. Away from breeding colonies mainly pelagic, but locally comes close inshore.

SOOTY SHEARWATER Puffinus griseus

SOOTY SHEARWATER Puffinus griseus

L 40–51 cm, WS 94–109 cm.
 

IDENTIFICATION 

Rather large shearwater and the only regularly occurring all-dark species. Wings long and narrow, appearing set relatively far back along body and usually held in backward-angled position. Flight action strong, with several rapid, stiff-winged flaps followed by a long glide. In stronger winds progression faster, banking and swinging (although less prone to high bounding than other large species). Does not often follow ships, but scavenges at trawlers. Species distinguished (from all but vagrant Flesh-footed and Wedge-tailed, or Jouanin’s Petrel, q.v.) by wholly dark plumage, apart from pale silvery underwing coverts, long wings and distinctive flight action. 

Pale underwing coverts often show conspicuously when bird banks over on its side (and in strong light entire underwing can seem pale silvery- grey), but in dull conditions often looks all-dark. Bill and legs dark. Can be confused with darkest mauretanicus Mediterranean, but latter smaller, with at least whitish centre to belly (although can look all-dark at long range), and is browner overall, shorter-winged and not so heavy-bodied. For distinctions from dark skuas see family introduction.

VOICE 

Silent at sea.

UNUSUAL VARIANTS 

Partial albinism rare, but some symmetrically patterned individuals can vaguely suggest Cape Petrel (q.v.).

STATUS/HABITAT 

Locally fairly common but generally uncommon. A non-breeding visitor from Southern Oceans (spending northern summer mainly in NW Atlantic), mostly occurring in our region during southbound migration in late summer/autumn. Rare in Mediterranean but surprisingly regular in Gulf of Aqaba. Mainly pelagic away from breeding colonies, but locally comes close inshore.

WEDGE-TAILED SHEARWATER Puffinus pacificus

WEDGE-TAILED SHEARWATER Puffinus pacificus

L 41–46 cm, WS 96–104 cm.
 

IDENTIFICATION 

Vagrant (breeds from Indian Ocean eastwards to Pacific). Medium-large polymorphic shearwater (dark morph much commoner), with intermediates. Flight typically rather buoyant with slow flaps and short glides (often circling), although more rapid and bounding in strong winds; distinctly broadbased wings held well forwards and bowed when gliding. Dark morph distinguished from other all-dark shearwaters by relatively long tail typically giving slender, tapering appearance to rear body (wedge shape apparent only from time to time, when manoeuvring), almost uniform dark underwing, upperwing often with obvious pale area on coverts (most obvious in worn birds), and distinctive flight action. Head and all-dark bill rather slender, adding to overall slender body shape. 

Feet pale pinkish. Sooty has chunkier head, obvious silvery patches on underwing coverts, shorter,  inconspicuous tail, dark feet, and narrower wings that are held straighter when gliding. Fleshfooted heavier and chunkier overall, with stouter, largely pale pink bill, shorter, less conspicuous tail, silvery undersides to primaries, and straighter wings when gliding. Jouanin’s Petrel distinctly smaller (although has similar long-tailed appearance), with heavier head and bill (latter usually held at a downwards angle), pale upperwing band often more defined, narrower wings and typically high bounding flight. Pale morph recalls Cory’s in coloration (being paler brown above than dark morph) but is smaller overall than typical Cory’s, with slim, dark bill, smaller head, longer and more slender tail, broader dark trailing edge to underwing and brown mottling on flanks and undertail coverts (visible only at close range). (Beware possible, if unlikely, confusion with smaller, darkbilled edwardsii race of Cory’s of Cape Verde Is.) 

VOICE 

Silent at sea.
 

STATUS/HABITAT 

Vagrant (Egypt). Pelagic away from breeding colonies.

GREAT SHEARWATER Puffinus gravis

GREAT SHEARWATER Puffinus gravis

Greater Shearwater (N America)

L 43–51 cm, WS 100–118 cm.
 

IDENTIFICATION 

Large, heavily built shearwater approaching Cory’s in bulk. Flight strong and powerful, recalling Cory’s with its high, bounding arcs in windier conditions but wingbeats stiffer and wings held straighter, less pressed forward, flexed and bowed, recalling Manx and Yelkouan in this respect. Often follows ships and scavenges. Can be distinguished from Cory’s by dark cap contrasting with white underparts, whitish collar (absent in some), alldark bill (although this is shared with Cory’s of race edwardsii), less extensive dark tip to underwing, band of dark mottling across underwing coverts (hard to see at long range) and different flight action. Darkish belly patch is a good feature when present, but even then can be hard to see unless bird banks right over. Whitish band on uppertail coverts is also present in some Cory’s. Moulting birds often show whitish bands on upperwing across base of secondaries. See also Blackcapped Petrel.

VOICE 

Generally silent at sea, but makes harsh squeals when squabbling over food. 

STATUS/HABITAT 

Locally fairly common but generally uncommon, especially from Scotland northwards. A non-breeding visitor from S Atlantic (spending northern summer mainly in NW Atlantic), mostly occurring in our region during southbound migration in late summer/autumn. Pelagic away from breeding colonies, only coming inshore during strong winds.