Adult Chim:
Summer Plumage:
- The upper head, from forehead to nape including the crest, is black.
- The nape is white.
- The back is pale gray; the flanks and upper tail coverts are almost entirely white.
- Primary feathers are dark grayish-brown, with a pale band in the middle of the inner vanes, and darker edges and tips.
- The remainder of the plumage is white.
Winter Plumage:
- The black on the head is replaced by white with black streaks.
- The white on the nape is brighter.
Juvenile Chim:
- Lacks black coloration on the head.
- The back is gray with brown barring, especially on the shoulders, wing coverts, and innermost secondary feathers.
- The tail and primary feathers are darker.
- Eyes are dark brown.
- The bill is red, turning reddish-black in winter with a darker tip.
- Legs are black.
Measurements:
- Wing: 30 – 421 mm
- Tail: 130 – 15 mm
- Tarsus: 3 – 8 mm
- Bill: 64 – 72 mm
Distribution:
This species is found in Europe, North Africa, and West Asia. In winter, it migrates to India, Burma, Sri Lanka, and southern Indochina.
In Vietnam:
This species is found in southern Vietnam (Vung Tau).