Credit: Kirk Rogers/USFWS
North American field guide
Roseate Tern
Sterna dougallii
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Identification
Field notes
39 cm (16") Uncommon. Atlantic coast. Pale gray mantle. Deeply forked tail. Adults have bright reddish orange legs, black tipped bill with a red base, may have a pinkish underbody.
Song: distinctive ripping "zra-a-a-ap" call and soft "chi-eep".
Details in the field
Photo gallery
Credit: Amanda Boyd/USFWS
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Videos
Roseate Terns 1
Credit: RayScott1000Roseate tern, Freiston
Credit: Paul SullivanBird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant · 1 rule
These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.
Roseate Tern
1 ruleRule 1 13 criteria · confidence 1
- What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the TAIL ?
- Forked · Unknown
- What colour was the BACK ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · 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) · Red, or pink · Unknown
- What colour was the BILL ?
- 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
- WHERE was the bird seen ?
- Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States