Small tern, County Durham UK (1 Viewer)

[rylirk]

Any ideas on this bird? It was the sole tern in a flock of mixed gulls resting on a beach at Seaton Carew yesterday.

 

[ryckfour]

Looks like Sandwich Tern to me, white forehead and shaggy crest at the back of the head.

 

[rylirk]

We had wondered that too at the time, but would a sandwich tern not look larger when compared to the Black-Headed gull nearby?

 

[Butty]

No.

 

[foresttwitcher]

would a sandwich tern not look larger when compared to the Black-Headed gull nearby?

Similar sized birds:

Black-headed Gull: length 35-39cm; wing-span 86-99cm
Sandwich Tern: length 37-43cm (includes tail streamers); wing-span 85-97cm

 

[tconzemi]

Black-headed Gull: length 35-39cm; wing-span 86-99cm
Sandwich Tern: length 37-43cm (includes tail streamers); wing-span 85-97cm

Terns have a much higher wingspan/body size ratio, so even if measurements are close , body size is much smaller in terns

 

[foresttwitcher]

Terns have a much higher wingspan/body size ratio, so even if measurements are close , body size is much smaller in terns

Indeed the bulk would look very different in flight or if perched, but it was just a way to describe why the birds looked a similar size in the OP's photos where they are on the ground.