Re: Dania Beach Terns

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Posted by Bryant Roberts on 21:14:52 05/26/04

In Reply to: Re: Dania Beach Terns posted by John Boyd

Thanks for the input John,

Ted and I met at the Dania Fishing Pier this afternoon and were able to see both terns.
We first saw the tern I d identified yesterday as a first or second summer Common Tern
and I was able to confirm that call to my satisfaction; cap, tail, and wing pattern all
matched. The only discrepancy was that this bird had no obvious shoulder patch but the
flight feathers were rather worn and the mantle was concealing the upper wings.

The other tern returned to the pier later and we were able to get close views of it sitting
on the railing in good light. It s bill was a little lighter than color of a Caspian Terns and
the color extended to the tip and was only a little darker on the upper and lower edges
near the tip. We weren t able to get side by side looks today but we agreed that this birds
bill was shorter than the Common Terns. The black cap came almost down to the bill with
only a fine line of white above the back 2/3 of the gape. The white band beneath the cap
was about as wide as the cap was high and the bottom margin was a straight distinct line
contrasting with the gray neck and underparts. The outer webbing on the tail feathers was
darker than the center of the tail but didn t look noticeably darker than the mantle. Ted
and I agreed that this bird looked a little larger in flight than the Common Tern.

Both terns would have been easy to photograph today but we lacked the equipment.

: The field marks you describe fit Common Tern, not Arctic.
:
: In particular, the outer web of the outer tail feathers is gray, not dark, on Arctic. There should not be a white cheek patch, only a narrow white strip between cap and cheek. The bill would not be described as "orange-red". Finally, the bill is small enough that you would not be hedging about its size.
:
: All of those field marks (and the size of the bird) point to Common. That leaves one field mark that suggests Arctic...the lack of a dark primary wedge. However, in the spring, summer plumage Common Terns typically lack this wedge. It only appears later in the summer due to feather wear.

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Comments:	: : Thanks for the input John, : : Ted and I met at the Dania Fishing Pier this afternoon and were able to see both terns. : We first saw the tern I d identified yesterday as a first or second summer Common Tern : and I was able to confirm that call to my satisfaction; cap, tail, and wing pattern all : matched. The only discrepancy was that this bird had no obvious shoulder patch but the : flight feathers were rather worn and the mantle was concealing the upper wings. : : The other tern returned to the pier later and we were able to get close views of it sitting : on the railing in good light. It s bill was a little lighter than color of a Caspian Terns and : the color extended to the tip and was only a little darker on the upper and lower edges : near the tip. We weren t able to get side by side looks today but we agreed that this birds : bill was shorter than the Common Terns. The black cap came almost down to the bill with : only a fine line of white above the back 2/3 of the gape. The white band beneath the cap : was about as wide as the cap was high and the bottom margin was a straight distinct line : contrasting with the gray neck and underparts. The outer webbing on the tail feathers was : darker than the center of the tail but didn t look noticeably darker than the mantle. Ted : and I agreed that this bird looked a little larger in flight than the Common Tern. : : Both terns would have been easy to photograph today but we lacked the equipment. : : : The field marks you describe fit Common Tern, not Arctic. : : : : In particular, the outer web of the outer tail feathers is gray, not dark, on Arctic. There should not be a white cheek patch, only a narrow white strip between cap and cheek. The bill would not be described as "orange-red". Finally, the bill is small enough that you would not be hedging about its size. : : : : All of those field marks (and the size of the bird) point to Common. That leaves one field mark that suggests Arctic...the lack of a dark primary wedge. However, in the spring, summer plumage Common Terns typically lack this wedge. It only appears later in the summer due to feather wear. :
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