Bridled Tern

Onychoprion anaathatus

Beak

—

Feet

—

Crest

No crest

Breeds off Maharashtra coast, Lakshadweep and Maldives?; offshore waters of Pakistan, W India and Sri Lanka in non-breeding season. Smaller and more elegant than Sooty Tern. in breeding plumage, white forehead patch extends over eye as broad white supercilium, and has brownish-grey mantle and wing - coverts which are noticeably paler than crown/nape. Rump and tail are brownish-grey (strikingly black-and - white in Sooty Tern). Adult non-breeding and immature have less distinct dark loral stripe and crown/nape as these are streaked white. and have pale fringes to upperparts. Immature and juvenile plumages are quite different from those of Sooty. Juvenile has greyish-white crown, dark mask and white forehead and supercilium (shadow-pattern of adult~ bullish fringes to mantle and wing-coverts. and brownish patch on side of breast. Formerly placed in Stema. Mainly offshore waters.