Was at Hameem Beach today and am working on my tern identification skills... could anybody help me with these 3?
Many thanks,
Ted
top of page
bottom of page
Was at Hameem Beach today and am working on my tern identification skills... could anybody help me with these 3?
Many thanks,
Ted
Perhaps 1st year white-cheeked tern? (the first two).
ok - good to know!
Could very well be a hybrid Eastern Common Tern longipennis, but they generally look darker grey below (check out the UAE Gallery) . A younger bird will have darker bills too.
Thanks Tommy- the links are really helpful. I guess the Common Terns must be the Eastern birds with the black bills... I think that's what really threw me
First two looks good for Common Tern
Third one is indeed a Saunders;'s Tern OR Little Tern. Unless in breeding plumage, they are virtually impossible to separate: https://www.uaebirding.com/little-tern-versus
OK- I went back this morning and am 95% that the third one is a Saunder's but any help on the first and second one would be appreciated