Which tern?

[Flavio Rose]

Taken yesterday in Orange County, California. My guess is royal tern. Any help would be most appreciated.

[John Chardine]

Hi Falvio- I think this is an Elegant Tern, Sterna elegans. Note the fine, slightly down-curved bill (Royal's is heavier straighter) and the orange with paler tip colouration (Royal's is even orange-red). Royals are almost twice as heavy as Elegant Terns and I think you can pick up this "daintiness" from your image.

[Richard Stern]

Hi,

Agree, and the rather wide black on the side of the head and the shaggy crest at the back of the head would tend to support Elegent as against Royal. A few years ago we had a chance to observe a nice mixed colony near La Jolla, and had an opportunity to compare the two. Some of them were very hard, and I think it's an under-appreciated and subtle ID problem. I like the sharpness and pose of the image, although I would have preferred removal of the shadow of the bill on the wing.

Richard

[Flavio Rose]

Thank you very much.

[John Chardine]

Richard- In fact I think back a while, Royals and Elegents were considered the same species.