White-cheeked Tern - Shivashankar Manjunatha
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Contributor

Shivashankar Manjunatha Media from this contributor Profile

Date

Location

IN (12.981, 74.579)
Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, India
Media from this location Illustrated Checklist
Map
Map Coordinates: 12.980856, 74.5785193
Age
Not specified
Sex
Not specified

Observation details

At least two (maybe more) with fully grey rumps and tails, concolorous with the rest of the upperparts. Both field observations and photos indicate that these were distinctly smaller than the Common Terns flying alongside with a longer looking bill. Although this isn't something I paid attention to in field, the underparts seem to be white to mottled white-grey to grey. Many Common Terns also appear to have fully grey underparts so this isn't a character of much use here. A general note on all WCTs, not restricted to this list - Could easily be confirmed from the photos. Concolorous grey rump, tail, mantle with white sides to the rump. Smaller size and longer, thinner bill than Common when seen alongside. Some individuals showed a broad dark trailing edge to the secondaries and dark primaries (retained from juvenile plumage?) suggesting 1st summer plumage. Also some individuals showed broad dark carpal bars.

Technical information

Model
NIKON D500
ISO
360
Focal length
500 mm
Flash
Flash did not fire
f-stop
f/6.3
Shutter speed
1/2000 sec
Dimensions
1560 pixels x 1040 pixels
Original file size
95.67 KB