Which Tern is this ? (1 Viewer)

V

Victor Soares

Well-known member

• Oct 26, 2019

• #1

Hi All,

Apologies for the poor photo but this is all I have on this one ... is there enough here to give a definitive answer on what species this is.

This was photographed over the Indian Ocean at Macaneta, Mozambique and I am not sure between Swift, Elegant or Lesser-Crested

 

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Jean FRANCOIS

Well-known member

• Oct 26, 2019

• #2

Lesser-crested for me.
Jean

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Oct 26, 2019

• #3

Lesser Crested Tern (no hyphen! - it is the bird, not its crest, that is smaller )

 

rollingthunder

Well-known member

• Oct 27, 2019

• #4

Lesser for me too:t:

Laurie -

 

S

Simon Wates

Well-known member

• Oct 27, 2019

• #5

Nutcracker said:

Lesser Crested Tern (no hyphen! - it is the bird, not its crest, that is smaller )

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True but one must bear in mid that in this case they have smaller crests than Greater Crested Tern o

 

V

Victor Soares

Well-known member

• Oct 29, 2019

• #6

Thanks for the responses everyone. I was also thinking Lesser Crested Tern but a very good South African bird guide suggested that this is Swift Tern. Can anyone agree with that and if so could you let me know what makes you think it one way or another .... thanks

 

Tib78

Well-known member

• Oct 29, 2019

• #7

For what it’s worth I also thought Swift/Greater Crested on seeing your image. These 2 sp (Greater CT and lesser CT) are easily confused on less than perfect shots like this. Is this the only image you have?

 

V

Victor Soares

Well-known member

• Oct 29, 2019

• #8

Tib78 said:

For what it’s worth I also thought Swift/Greater Crested on seeing your image. These 2 sp (Greater CT and lesser CT) are easily confused on less than perfect shots like this. Is this the only image you have?

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Unfortunately, yes

 

Larry Sweetland

Formerly 'Larry Wheatland'

• Oct 29, 2019

• #9

Tib78 said:

For what it’s worth I also thought Swift/Greater Crested on seeing your image. These 2 sp (Greater CT and lesser CT) are easily confused on less than perfect shots like this. Is this the only image you have?

Click to expand...

I've also been fooled before by Greater Crested Terns with alarmingly orange-tinged bills, presumably around breeding time?

 

S

Simon Wates

Well-known member

• Oct 29, 2019

• #10

I'm seeing a hint of green in the bill tone on my screen, if true doesn't that eliminate Lesser Crested?

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Oct 29, 2019

• #11

Simon Wates said:

I'm seeing a hint of green in the bill tone on my screen, if true doesn't that eliminate Lesser Crested?

Click to expand...

Not reliably, given the quality of the photo! The bill looks too slender to me for Swift Tern, but again with the low quality . . . :h?: