4/13/02 Elegant Terns, with a couple Caspian Terns (large red bills) to the left.
Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve, Orange County, CA
LIFE LIST NOTES:
COMMON NAME: Elegant Tern
COMMON NAME: Elegant Tern
SPECIES: Sterna elegans
FAMILY: Laridae (Gulls & Terns)
FAMILY: Laridae (Gulls & Terns)
LIFE LIST DATE: 4/13/2002
LOCATION: Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve, Newport Beach, Orange County, CA
From Kaufman Focus Guide-Birds of North America:
HABITAT/BEHAVIOR: A specialty of Southern California. Wanders along coast to northern California, mostly in late summer. In warm water years, flocks may go farther north. Strictly coastal, almost never seen inland.
IDENTIFYING MARKS: 17" w34"; Very similar to Royal Tern. Smaller (apparent only when they are together). Has much slimmer bill that often looks slightly droopy. In "winter" plumage (worn for most of year), black from nape usually extends forward to include the eye on Elegant, not on Royal Tern.
IDENTIFYING MARKS: 17" w34"; Very similar to Royal Tern. Smaller (apparent only when they are together). Has much slimmer bill that often looks slightly droopy. In "winter" plumage (worn for most of year), black from nape usually extends forward to include the eye on Elegant, not on Royal Tern.
VOICE: Sharp keerrik. Abruptly two-noted, unlike Royal's call.
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