Bird Description

Scarce, except on breeding grounds. Nests on rocky islands. Behavior as COTE and usually found with that species. ID: Conspicuously pale with striking, very fast shallow stiff wingbeats (tropicbird-like) that can be seen at distance. Slender wings. Bill long and strikingly fine. Fairly long legs. Ad br: pale color most noticeable feature. Underparts range from white to strong pinkish flush (never gray as COTE). Pronounced long tail, exaggerated by fairly short wings. Bill variable from all dark to fairly extensive red base. Legs more orange than COTE. Wings appear mostly white on sitting birds. Black outer edge to outer 2-4 primaries create narrow wedge in flight. Nonbr: best told by pale upperparts and bill shape. Primaries are darker than in breeding birds. Juv: bold black subterminal markings to upperparts (lacking brown of COTE), and darker-headed than most juv terns.