Re: Tern ID

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Posted by Stefan on 12:13:18 06/18/04

In Reply to: Tern ID posted by John Boyd

I also believe that those are Roseates:

- As John remarked there is more white between gape and cap. For the Roseate, there seems to be an acute angle between the gape and the black cap. On a Forster's, the gape and the black cap above it are more parallel.

- On the first old picture, the extra long tail streamers can be seen fairly well.

- The Roseate's legs seem to be even brighter red than the Forster's.

- The breeding plumage Roseate's bill (when there is red) just seems to be a bit thinner and possibly longer than on the Forster's. The red on the base on the bill is fairly bright and dark.

In flight, the Roseates I saw were very white underneath and the upper part of the tail was clean white also rather than gray on a Forster's tail. This last field mark is not shown well in Sibley's.

Stefan

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Comments:	: I also believe that those are Roseates: : : - As John remarked there is more white between gape and cap. For the Roseate, there seems to be an acute angle between the gape and the black cap. On a Forster's, the gape and the black cap above it are more parallel. : : - On the first old picture, the extra long tail streamers can be seen fairly well. : : - The Roseate's legs seem to be even brighter red than the Forster's. : : - The breeding plumage Roseate's bill (when there is red) just seems to be a bit thinner and possibly longer than on the Forster's. The red on the base on the bill is fairly bright and dark. : : In flight, the Roseates I saw were very white underneath and the upper part of the tail was clean white also rather than gray on a Forster's tail. This last field mark is not shown well in Sibley's. : : Stefan
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