ML641904802

Dettagli dell'osservazione

Today I saw a Tern that was different from the ones usually seen in salt pans. While the small Tern with a dark short bill was in flight, I noticed its deeply forked tail, which made me suspect it might be an Arctic Tern. Observations that seemed similar to an Arctic Tern : 1. Smaller body compared to the Common Tern. 2. Dark, short, and Slender-bill (Common Tern has a longer bill). 3. Short neck ( Compared to the Common Tern, it has a shorter neck). 4. The black cap on the head ends at the nape. 5. The edges of the secondaries and the greater coverts on the wings are white. The rest of the upperwings and the back are pale grey in color. 6. Deeply forked white tail and white rump. 7. Narrow dark trailing edge on the underside of primaries(Common Tern has a thick dark trailing edge on the underside of the primaries). 8. Breast and belly are smoky grey in color. 9. Shorter legs compared to the Common Tern.