Elegant/Lesser crested tern (1 Viewer)

[condor1992]

I recently realised I have taken a much better photo of the bird yesterday. What I find interesting is the absolutely MASSIVE dagger-shaped yellow bill the tern has (compare to surrounding terns, also to the bill of a confirmed elegant from the same meter or so of area: Elegant Tern (Thalasseus elegans)). As a reminder, it occured in an area where 2 elegant terns were reported, and one of them has been confirmed from my photos, but others think it may be lesser crested (a 3rd rarity for the 15th April would be amazing if so...). The bird my photos show appears to be an immature.

 

[Bewick]

Where was this taken?

 

[condor1992]

Where was this taken?

El Pinet, Spain. Either one there is a monstrous rarity, but, due to the Albufera having 8 elegant terns, the lesser crested is even rarer

 

[Butty]

The bird in the photo you post here and the bird on the iNat link both have a weird long narrow bill, like elegant tern and unlike lesser crested tern.
I don't know what ID point you're making here.

The bird my photos show appears to be an immature

I can't see any reason to think that.

It would have been better if you'd posted this in your previous thread in order to keep all this together and be less confusing. Can you at least please give a link to that earlier thread?
Note that every ID thread you start should include date and full location information.

 

[THE_FERN]

Bill shape better for elegant tern. If it were of critical importance (in some sense) I'd look to better photos before committing

 

[condor1992]

Bill shape better for elegant tern. If it were of critical importance (in some sense) I'd look to better photos before committing

Best as it can get, I'm afraid. As far as I know, this is the best photo anyone has taken of that particular 'half-bald' bird this time around. Elegant tern would be a better explanation, I agree. Lesser crested is bordering on too rare to infer it as the best explanation.

 

[Butty]

Lesser crested is bordering on too rare to infer it as the best explanation.

It's not the best explanation because it doesn't look like one. Reasons given in two comments above.