ashwinv's Identifications

First kerala riport

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Observing a tern on a rainy day, I initially thought it was a breeding Common Tern due to the dark color on its belly. However, upon reviewing images, I noticed distinct differences, including

Sharply demarcated trailing edge of the primaries

Lack of a dark wedge on the upper wing

Extremely short neck or no visible neck

Long tail streaming

White rump

These characteristics set it apart from the Common Tern. I consulted with experienced birders and experts on a Facebook group dedicated to bird identification, and they pointed out additional features, including:

Semi-translucent primaries, suggesting an Arctic Tern

However, some noted that the beak appeared slightly longer than typical for an Arctic Tern

Renowned expert Killian Mullarney shared his insight, stating that while the beak may seem slightly long, it falls within the range of variation seen in Arctic Terns. Based on these discussions and observations, I concluded that the tern I spotted was an Arctic Tern.

Acknowledgements :

Moditha hiranya kodikara arachchi

Nikolas Hass

Chris kehoe

Killian Mullarney

Ashwin viswanathan

Douglas ball

Sandeep biswas

Praveen j

Lakshmi ravindrennair