South Florida - Royal or Caspian Tern? (1 Viewer)

[Zackiedawg]

Many birders had reported two Caspian terns visiting a local wetlands - it's not a common sight here...when I visited on Saturday, several other photographers were shooting two terns flying over the lake, and identifying them as the Caspians. I joined in to shoot as well - but I expected Caspians to have much redder bills, no fork in the tails, and the tufts of black on the heads looked more like Royal to me...hoping someone can confirm the following shots if these are Caspians or Royals:

 

[Butty]

Caspian tern does have a forked tail. But these photos are of royal tern: largely-pale underside to primaries.

 

[njlarsen]

Color and shape of bill is also different:

Caspian Tern - BirdForum Opus

www.birdforum.net

Niels

 

[Zackiedawg]

Thank you both. I've seen both, but the royals I see a few every year or two, and the Caspians I've only seen twice, with the last sighting in 2012. I'm much more familiar with royals, and this really did seem to be a royal, but I didn't want to get into any arguments correcting other birders, so after questioning it once and getting a denial, I just let it be.