Are the colours in the image true? Really a brown eye patch and red legs and brownish bill??
If so, I think you're right, but Terns are a tough ID with the young birds transitioning to adults just this time of year.
I think it's a Forster juvie - short brownish bill, red legs, gray tail. The brown eye patch is browner than I've ever seen - or that my Sibley's shows, and there should be some brownish bars across the back of a Juvie in July that seem absent here.
Early morning sun, very humid. There is a lot of red in this due to the time of day and weather. The only processing change is added black and sharpening and NR of the BG. Otherwise, it is straight out of the camera. Here is the RAW image, unedited.
Posted by Ron Crawford on July 18, 2011 at 11:53 AM
Different opinions in my house, I say Forster's tern. The wife looking at audubons thinks it a Trudeau's tern since it lookes more gray and the bill of the Forster is solid black. The Trudeau is less black on it's bill.
Posted by Mia McPherson on July 18, 2011 at 12:52 PM
Philip,
Forster's Terns have black bills in non-breeding plumage. In breeding plumage the bill is orange with a black tip. Forster's Terns show in your area of Georgia. Snowy-crowned (aka Trudeau's Tern) live in South America.
I would say this is a non-breeding Forster's Tern, though the exposure has made the bill appear gray, I'm sure that it was black. It has the unique dark mask expected of a non-breeding Forster's.This tern does not have the dark carpal-bar of a Common Tern, also seen in your area during migration.
Discussion
5 repliesIf so, I think you're right, but Terns are a tough ID with the young birds transitioning to adults just this time of year.
I think it's a Forster juvie - short brownish bill, red legs, gray tail. The brown eye patch is browner than I've ever seen - or that my Sibley's shows, and there should be some brownish bars across the back of a Juvie in July that seem absent here.
Sandy .
.
Forster's Terns have black bills in non-breeding plumage. In breeding plumage the bill is orange with a black tip. Forster's Terns show in your area of Georgia. Snowy-crowned (aka Trudeau's Tern) live in South America.
I would say this is a non-breeding Forster's Tern, though the exposure has made the bill appear gray, I'm sure that it was black. It has the unique dark mask expected of a non-breeding Forster's.This tern does not have the dark carpal-bar of a Common Tern, also seen in your area during migration.
A Snowy-crowned would be accidental in Georgia, and a five alarm fire for any birders who keep lists.