Bridled Tern - Michael Todd
Report

Contributor

Date

Location

Pickwick Lake--Bruton Branch Recreation Area
Hardin, Tennessee, United States
Media from this location Illustrated Checklist
Map
Map Coordinates: 35.069376, -88.1902479
Age
Not specified
Sex
Not specified

Observation details

Jeff initially got me on this bird. He had seen this bird before I got there at too great a distance to be sure what it was. We got better looks at it, but still from too great a distance to get a photo with the conditions we had. We saw it flying initially with 3 Common Terns, which were very similar in size and flight. We also saw it flying with a Sooty Tern. The size difference was obvious, and all relevant marks were noted. The back was dark gray, but not black, as it contrasted slightly with the black cap, unlike the Sooties. The underwing was seen well, with the base of the primaries being white, so that there was a dark wedge on the trailing edge of the wing, but not all dark flight feathers like Sooty. When the bird flared we could see extensive white in the tail. I had only seen Sooty and Bridled one time before, on a pelagic.

Technical information

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440 pixels x 720 pixels
Original file size
111.65 KB