ML55324711
Contributor
Date
Location
- Age and sex
- Adult, Unknown sex - X
Observation details
WHITE-WINGED TERN Chlidonias leucopterus DATE: 22 May 1995 LOCATION : Bear Swamp, Bombay Hook NWR, Smyrna, Kent Co., DE. TIME: 1400-1440 WEATHER: Sunny and clear. Temp. 70's. Winds NNW 5-10 MPH OPTICS: 10x40 binoculars and 20-60 scope. I initially saw the bird sitting among a small group of Forster's Terns on a grassy island at Bear swamp. At a distance of about 300 yards, the bird appeared in size, shape and color to be a Black Tern (Chlidonias niger). On careful observation through a scope, the closed upper wing surface appeared shiny white. With the bird facing away I had a good view of the undertail coverts which were white. It then took off and at once the white upperwing and white tail were readily visible. The underwing pattern consisted of black underwing coverts, while the rest of the underwing was white. It fed methodically flying slowly and hovering searching a small area then flying back to the original starting point and repeating the same feeding sequence' I observed the bird for about 30-40 minutes and was able to take several photos at varying distances. I have seen White-winged Tern in the past but always in late summer and the plumage has always had at least some molt. This was my first experience with an alternate plumaged bird, and my first spring record for this species. GENERAL APPEARANCE: Medium sized black tern. HEAD: All black and rounded. It was too distant to see any coloration of the bill. UPPERPARTS: nape and back were black. The upperwing was white. The underwing was a described previously. UNDERPARTS: Belly and flanks were black. Undertail coverts were white. TAIL: White above and below and square. BARE PARTS: too distant to appreciate. SEPARATION FROM SIMILAR SPECIES: Differed from Black Tern, whereas the Black Tern has a similar black head but the rest of the upperparts are grayish-black and the underwing patterns are gray. Nick Pulcinella cc. Delaware Records Committee adult
Technical information
- Model
- CanoScan 9000F
- Dimensions
- 2048 pixels x 1295 pixels
- Original file size
- 2.05 MB