Breakfast Onboard
Common Terns have long, narrow, angular wings and pointed wingtips. Unlike gulls, this tern has a straight, slender bill. The tail is forked, and the legs are short..
Common Terns are pale gray overall with a black cap. Breeding birds have a fully black cap that extends to the back of the neck and a gray belly. They also have an orange bill tipped in black and orange legs. Nonbreeding birds have a white forehead, a partial black cap, and black legs and bill. They also have a black bar across the shoulder known as a carpal bar and dark trailing edges on the wingtips as seen in flight.
Terns fly gracefully with rowing wingbeats over open waters, diving down to pick fish from or just below the water's surface. They are vocal and gregarious birds that make their presence well known.
Common Terns nest on rocky islands, barrier beaches, and saltmarshes and forage over open waters including inlets, lakes, and marine waters. During the breeding season they frequent both salt and freshwater, but during the winter they tend to stick to marine environments.
(Nikon D500, 300 mm f/2.8, 1/6400 @ f/4.5, ISO 800)
Breakfast Onboard
Common Terns have long, narrow, angular wings and pointed wingtips. Unlike gulls, this tern has a straight, slender bill. The tail is forked, and the legs are short..
Common Terns are pale gray overall with a black cap. Breeding birds have a fully black cap that extends to the back of the neck and a gray belly. They also have an orange bill tipped in black and orange legs. Nonbreeding birds have a white forehead, a partial black cap, and black legs and bill. They also have a black bar across the shoulder known as a carpal bar and dark trailing edges on the wingtips as seen in flight.
Terns fly gracefully with rowing wingbeats over open waters, diving down to pick fish from or just below the water's surface. They are vocal and gregarious birds that make their presence well known.
Common Terns nest on rocky islands, barrier beaches, and saltmarshes and forage over open waters including inlets, lakes, and marine waters. During the breeding season they frequent both salt and freshwater, but during the winter they tend to stick to marine environments.
(Nikon D500, 300 mm f/2.8, 1/6400 @ f/4.5, ISO 800)