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Posted by Bill Pranty on 13:07:59 11/12/13
In Reply to: Re: Black Tern visits the Wild Waves in Lake Worth Beach posted by Andy Kratter
Good afternoon,
At the risk of being wrong -- which I absolutely HATE -- I'm in the Black Tern camp on this one. In one of Marcello's other photos, the bird shows white underparts more extensive than what I would think a juvenile Sooty would show. Also, a juvenile Sooty should have a wholly dark head, which Marcello's bird positively lacks, instead showing a white head with a dark cap, nape, and ear patch separated from the dark back by a white "collar." The face pattern looks spot-on for a Black, as does the tail shape, which seems too thick in the outer rects to be a Sooty. The upperparts look as dark as a Black Tern that I photographed on the West Pasco CBC in Dec 2012; it's not black but dark gray (Marcello's photos may be underexposed). Finally, I don't see the white speckling on the upperparts of a juvenile Sooty.
Marcello, if you have any other photos of this bird -- especially one showing the underwings and/or the underparts -- please post them. The dark "spur" on the side of the upper breast will be diagnostic for a Black Tern if present.
Best regards,
Bill Pranty
Bayonet Point, Florida
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