Tern in the Seychelles 26 December 2024 (1 Viewer)

[jmorlan]

Photographed this tern on the Seychelles 26 December 2024. with considerable controversy on the ID from the local birding group. We judged it to be marginally smaller than nearby Common Tern. Any thoughts would be very welcome.

 

[lou salomon]

Immature Black-naped Tern I guess.

 

[jmorlan]

With the contrasting black outer primaries and small size, its a choice between Little and Saunder's Terns. I'm going with Winter Saunder's because of the all white crown (no gray smudging), no white eyebrow, paler mantle, contrasting white patch on wing coverts and broader white fringes to inner primaries. A recent helpful paper here.