Outdoor Ontario

Request for Information => Bird ID => Topic started by: Drevni on June 15, 2008, 08:36:38 PM

Title: Common Tern?
Post by: Drevni on June 15, 2008, 08:36:38 PM

Visited the Bluffs on Saturday and saw a few of these flying around. I couldn't figure out if this was a Common Tern or not.

(http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k93/Drevni/DSC03377.jpg)

(http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k93/Drevni/DSC03365.jpg)

Thanks for the help in advance!

Title: Ref Tern ID
Post by: JTF on June 16, 2008, 09:11:50 AM

If the tern has some black on the end of the bill its a Common Tern, can't quite tell from the images. If no black on the end then it would be a Caspian but they have very large think bills not slim like in the pic.

Title: Yes
Post by: thouc on June 17, 2008, 10:42:42 PM

Yes, it definitely looks like a Common Tern.

Title:
Post by: Brian Bailey on June 18, 2008, 09:28:09 PM

Yes, definitely a Common Tern.  Caspian Terns are much more gull-like in shape, size, and flight style.  They are more heavily built, and take much shallower wingbeats than this bird.  Its bright orange bill is much thicker than that of the Common Tern.

Forster's Terns look very similar to Common, but they lack the black on the wingtips.  They are also much less common around here.

BB

Title:
Post by: Anonymous on June 19, 2008, 08:19:02 PM

Here's a couple of Caspian shots that you can reference, also from the Bluffs.  Cheers, Attila

(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm162/wwwthehotrampcom/CaspiansIII.jpg)

(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm162/wwwthehotrampcom/CaspianFlyingII.jpg)