North American field guide

Gull-billed Tern

Gelochelidon nilotica

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

36 cm (14") Uncommon. Atlantic coast, Pacific Coast, Salton Sea, California. Salt marshes, fields, coastal bays. Whitest tern. Thick black gull-like bill. Long black feet. Broad white wings. Slightly forked tail. Looks and flies like a gull. Seldom dives, rather hawks for insects.

Song: nasal "za-za-za" and "kay-week, kay week".

Details in the field

Photo gallery

1 photo

Credit: Sergey Yeliseev

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

Gull-billed Tern, Trevilly Farm, Sennen, 07/04/2011

Credit: John Chapple

Gull-Billed Tern, Ynyslas

Credit: Alex Jones

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.

Gull-billed Tern

2 rules

Rule 1 14 criteria confidence 2

What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Forked · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · 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) · 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
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States · Southwestern United States

result:554-gull-billed-tern:1:1 Source: 554 Gull-billed Tern, row 1

Rule 2 14 criteria confidence 2

What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Forked · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · 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
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Winter
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States · Southwestern United States

result:554-gull-billed-tern:2:1 Source: 554 Gull-billed Tern, row 2