Strange tern in Shanghai, China (1 Viewer)

choimo · Feb 2, 2007

I have forgotten to bring a camera unfortunately... But here are the notes I took in field, orginally thought it may be a Caspian tern, then couldn't find any bird that meet my description.

Size ~ 40cm, it sat next to Saunder's Gull and look slightly larger
Black tipped, bright red bill
small black patch behind its eye, but no black on crown nor nape
Short, red legged
Light grey back
Primaries extended beyond tail
white tail

Any clue?

Dave B · Feb 2, 2007

choimo said:
I have forgotten to bring a camera unfortunately... But here are the notes I took in field, orginally thought it may be a Caspian tern, then couldn't find any bird that meet my description.

Size ~ 40cm, it sat next to Saunder's Gull and look slightly larger
Black tipped, bright red bill
small black patch behind its eye, but no black on crown nor nape
Short, red legged
Light grey back
Primaries extended beyond tail
white tail

Any clue?

Sounds like a Caspian to me!

Check this:
http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/search.php?p=1&action=searchresult&Bird_ID=970

Dave

lou salomon · Feb 2, 2007

sounds like caspian tern except this:

choimo said:
small black patch behind its eye, but no black on crown nor nape
QUOTE]

at least in nape there should be some black. otherwise - there's no other such big tern with black-tipped red bill.

mcaribou · Feb 3, 2007

I think of a black-headed gull(not tern)at once.
And it seems Caspian tern dont winter in shanghai.Wish u get a further view and confirm the wintering record for Caspian.
Cheers!

JANJ · Feb 3, 2007

I also had a gull feeling to this (red legs not so good for Caspian Tern) and if so it would be Black-headed Gull (L. ridibundus) which seems good according to size mentioned next to Saunders Gull. Another possibility could be Brown-headed Gull (L. brunnicephalus).

http://www.pbase.com/okbird/image/21215129

What do choimo think of all that?

JanJ

choimo · Feb 3, 2007

Strange ... really strange...
I did not consider gull at all since I have got a clear impression of a tern
The bill was big and thick while the legs seem to be short...
But my description meets Black headed gull and brown headed gull perfectly
I will try to visit the fishpond again and hope to take a photo of this suspected tern

Strange tern in Shanghai, China (1 Viewer)

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choimo

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Dave B

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lou salomon

the birdonist

mcaribou

Migration coming

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choimo

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