Royal Tern
Elegant Tern
Also known as: Cabot's Tern, Sterna sandvicensis
38 cm (15") Uncommon. Atlantic coastal beaches and islands, often associating with Royal Terns.
Pigeon-sized. White head with a short crest; black cap; long, slender, black bill with a yellow tip - no other tern has such a bill; white underparts; pale gray mantle; long, slender wings with dark in tips; black legs. Similar Gull-billed Tern has shorter, stouter, all-black bill.
Winter adult, seen as early as July, similar but has white forehead.
Song: grating "kirr-ick".
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Credit: RyeHarbourUK
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Credit: shell game