Species:

Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii)

Little Tern (Sternula albifrons)

Change species:
Main Images:
Length (cm):
33-38
22-24
Wingspan (cm):
72-80
48-55
Weight (gram):
92-133
49-63
Size group:
Crow-size
Crow-size
Main Texts:
Appearance:

Differs from Common and Arctic Tern by; noticably shorter wings, longer streamers, much paler grey upperparts, pure white underparts (faint rosy wash not very conspicuous), black bill (red base in breeding birds), dark outer primaries and no dark edge to inner primaries. Amount of red in bill increases as breeding season progresses, but also varies geographically. Wingbeats shallower and much quicker than in Common and Arctic Tern. Fishes with characteristic diagonal dives. Despite the long streamers, the birds appear short-tailed in flight, but head and bill are long and slender. The pale plumage, dark bill and giss recalls a small Sandwich Tern. Adult winter plumage with all dark bill and white forehead. Juveniles resembles juvenile Sandwich Terns, with more complete dark cap than Arctic and Common, and much more contrasting markings on back (especially to wings).

Sound:

Extremely harsh calls. Like mix of Caspian and Arctic Tern. Very hard and raspy "kreeeet", harder and higher pitched than Caspian Tern, but equally harsh. Other calls include more Arctic/Common tern-like short "kek", and similar.

Contact call:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

CC

CC-photo:USFWS/Southeast, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Werner Witte, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Anita363, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Mike Prince, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

White forehead with white wedge above eye in all plumages. Legs, and most of bill yellow in adult breeding plumage. Very small and longwinged tern. Only 2/3 of size of Common Tern. Head and bill proportionally longer than Chlidonias species and congeners, while tail is shorter. Back paler grey and belly whiter. First primaries form a dark front edge to wing. In winter the bill darkens, legs turn a dirty yellow and the white forehead expands. Juvenile resembles adult winter, but has yellowish bill base and scale patterned back. Flight fluttering with rapid wing-beats, which together with size, is usually sufficient to determine the species.

Sound:

Fairly distinct voice. Contact call a sharp "kitt", often combined to form undulating, rolling series. Not as sharp and penetrating as Common- and Arctic Tern.

Contact call:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Xeno-canto: map

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

CC-photo:Lars Buckx, Licence,Link.

Similar species (sound):
Silhouette Group:
Gull-like
Silhouette
Gull-like
Silhouette
Several different images of the species
ImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImage
ImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImage
Several different sounds of the species
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file