Swift tern (Non breeding)

- No description given -

comments (6)

Ant Marriott

Lion

Stout orange beak and dark wing tips would suggest to me a Royal Tern Posted 10 years ago, modified 10 years ago
1. Claire Hamilton
  
  Lion
  
  Oh I wish, if it were I would be a very happy chappie and also a little bit famous! The Royal is a very rare visitor to SA and even then would be just south of Namibia. The orange beak is also indicative of the Swift. Thank you though, I have to confess I also thought it was a Royal at first. Posted 10 years ago
2. 1. Ant Marriott
    
    Lion
    
    Cant pretend to know the coverage of Terns in South Africa but a Swift Tern has a yellow to yellow/olive bill and would show a uniform colour all along the wing, this example is showing dark outer primaries...but seabirds are not my strong point. Have you tried checking local sightings to see if any have been seen recent to your photograph. Are both shots of the same bird? Posted 10 years ago
  2. 1. Claire Hamilton
      
      Lion
      
      I am no expert either so I asked on a local birding Facebook site. The bill could have altered colour in processing, not sure. There was a whole flock of them and so photos of various birds. In my book the non breeding colors do show dark primaries. I shall ask the main birding group in the local area as soon as I have a decent internet access. Thank you Ant, I appreciate your input! Posted 10 years ago
    2. 1. Ant Marriott
        
        Lion
        
        Had a rummage thru my folders and found this shot of a Royal Tern but does it help? Not sure at all now.
        http://www.jungledragon.com/image/32370 Posted 10 years ago
      2. Claire Hamilton
        
        Lion
        
        It is a tricky one and I can see distinct similarities however, I am categorically assured that the Royal never visits our coasts and also the bill is not orange enough to be one, so I think I will stick with the Swift. Once again, thank you so much for your input. Posted 10 years ago

The Greater crested tern

The greater crested tern is a tern in the family Laridae that nests in dense colonies on coastlines and islands in the tropical and subtropical Old World. Its five subspecies breed in the area from South Africa around the Indian Ocean to the central Pacific and Australia, all populations dispersing widely from the breeding range after nesting.

Info 16 0

Similar species: Shorebirds And Allies

Species identified by Claire Hamilton