Elegant Tern

Thalasseus elegans

ELTE

Order: Charadriiformes | Family: Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
Elegant Tern 1

Bird Description

Very rare W coast species. ID: Smaller and slimmer-winged than ROTE. Bill long, narrow, and slightly downcurved. Lollipop orange but often darker (reddish in summer) toward base, and paler (yellowish in winter) toward tip. Crest longer than ROYT. Ad br: solid black cap. Breast often has strong pink flush. Nonbr: usually solid black around eye; similar species have white postocular.

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