Elegant Tern

Thalasseus elegans

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Identification

Field notes

43 cm (17") Rare. Pacific coast. Breeds in Mexico, wanders north after breeding season. Suggests a small Royal Tern but it has a longer slimmer reddish-orange bill and longer crest. Forked tail.

Song: "karr-reek".

Details in the field

Photo gallery

1 photo

Credit: Len Blumin

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

Elegant Tern

Credit: Don DesJardin

California Wildlife ---- Elegant Tern colony

Credit: American Wildlife

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Elegant Tern

2 rules

Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 3

What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Forked · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Red, or pink · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Gull-like, or a Seabird
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States

result:558-elegant-tern:1:1 Source: 558 Elegant Tern, row 1

Rule 2 13 criteria confidence 1

What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Forked · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Red, or pink · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Gull-like, or a Seabird
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northwestern Canada or United States

result:558-elegant-tern:2:1 Source: 558 Elegant Tern, row 2