Tern, White-cheeked

Conservation status:

Migrant Breeder

Description:

Slightly smaller than Common Tern with shorter wings, slightly shorter legs but with fairly long bill. A dark tern, in breeding plumage it is easy to identify with its black cap, white cheeks, dark grey wings and light underparts. Bill colour varies from almost all red to almost all black.The legs are a dark brownish-red. Immature birds are much paler and are difficult to seperate from Common Terns. The grey rump helps identify this tern.