Id Help - Mumbai, India - 4 (1 Viewer)

[mihir]

Request id help for these terns photographed near Sasoon Docks in Mumbai on 31st July 2024.

 

[Joern Lehmhus]

I think Bridled Tern, but don´t have personal experience with that species ...so please wait for a second confirmation

 

[Holger]

There are two species of Terns in India which have this typical head markings, Bridled Tern and Sooty Tern. I go for Bridled Tern because the Sooty Tern has a darker belly and more white on the forehead

 

[Glimmer]

Bridled

 

[Southern Viking]

There are two species of Terns in India which have this typical head markings, Bridled Tern and Sooty Tern. I go for Bridled Tern because the Sooty Tern has a darker belly and more white on the forehead

Darker back I'm sure you mean rather than belly (although juvenile Sooty have a dark belly)?

Another thing is that the forehead patch stretches back over the eye a bit in Bridled (as this does), rather than being a larger more triangular forehead patch