Prakruti Parichay
LaridaeSterna

Oseate Tern

SIBma dougallii

33–38 cmLarge
Beak
—
Feet
—
Crest
No crest

Resident and summer visitor. India. Sri Lanka and Maldives. Pale grey upperparts and rump concolorous with back, long tail with white outer feathers, broad white trailing edge to wing, lack of prominent dark trailing edge to underside of primaries, and rather stiff and rapid flight action help separate from Common Tern. in breeding plumage, bill either black or red with extensive black tip, a ndpink flush to underparts. Juvenile has black bill and legs, black subterminal marks to upperpart feathers, and largely black crown. Yoioe Flight call is different from Common and Black-naped, a disyllabic chu-vee, recalling Spotted Redshank. Coastal waters and offshore islands.

Colour

BlackWhiteGreyRed
Average size
35.5 cm
Habitat
Coastal waters and offshore islands.
Behaviour
Resident and summer visitor.

About this bird

Resident and summer visitor. India. Sri Lanka and Maldives. Pale grey upperparts and rump concolorous with back, long tail with white outer feathers, broad white trailing edge to wing, lack of prominent dark trailing edge to underside of primaries, and rather stiff and rapid flight action help separate from Common Tern. in breeding plumage, bill either black or red with extensive black tip, a ndpink flush to underparts. Juvenile has black bill and legs, black subterminal marks to upperpart feathers, and largely black crown. Yoioe Flight call is different from Common and Black-naped, a disyllabic chu-vee, recalling Spotted Redshank. Coastal waters and offshore islands.

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Every bird sits between two neighbours — bigger than one, smaller than the other. The sentences below are generated live from the database.

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Oseate Tern is bigger than Asian Dowitcher but smaller than Andaman Barn Owl.

This bird

Oseate Tern

SIBma dougallii

33–38 cm