Unknown tern species - Portugal (1 Viewer)

[curlewsandpiper1980]

Photo 1, 2 and 3 above

Location: saltmarsh estuary,south Portugal
Mid March

The area is known for gull billed tern, whiskered tern, black tern, common tern, little tern, Caspian, and Sandwich. I saw a few Caspian terns this morning, but this was another species. Red bill.

A whiskered tern? Or another species?

That's the Caspian tern below, as comparison (photo 4):




And then I also saw this gull species, which I am unsure about. A (winter plumage) Mediterranean gull?

Photo 5 and 6 below

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello,

the Gull is a 2cy Black-headed Gull. the unique primary pattern, shared with the longer billed (and has a weaker ear-covert spot) Slender-billed Gull is visible.

 

[curlewsandpiper1980]

Thanks, which photo is the slender billed gull?

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Oh sorry,

no Slender-billed Gull in your pictures. I read my comment again, and it is indeed confusing.
I just wanted to explain the differences to the most similar species. Your Gull has a rounded head, short bill and an obvious black spot on the head side.
This excludes a Slender-billed Gull.

 

[curlewsandpiper1980]

How about the tern? Any guesses?

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello,

like you I hope for the real experts to comment, but I get a Whiskered Tern vibe.
Adding to your ID from the field? the appearant shape of the cape (not extensive, rounded cap) and the short tail seems good for this.
And I think you excluded the true large/giant Caspian Tern in the field?

 

[birdboybowley]

Caspian for me.....in the enlargement u can see a full black head and large reddish bill

 

[jogresh]

Yes, Caspian with a bill like that.

 

[TheBlackGrouse]

Photo 1, 2 and 3 above

Location: saltmarsh estuary,south Portugal
Mid March

The area is known for gull billed tern, whiskered tern, black tern, common tern, little tern, Caspian, and Sandwich. I saw a few Caspian terns this morning, but this was another species. Red bill.

You saw a few Caspian terns the same morning?

They are huge, they fly like small gulls with powerful wing beats. If you know the species it's almost impossible to make a mistake, unless it was a short sighting at a huge distance of a bird with tailwind, for instance.

This is not meant to be offensive in any way, but I'm just wondering why you are in doubt when you are familiar with Caspian terns. That said, we have them every year for a few weeks, and once I almost missed one that looked like a Common tern, gliding above a ditch in the meadows, far away from the huge lake where it normally was. It was in harsh sunlight and I only saw the back of the distant bird, so it's possible.

 

[curlewsandpiper1980]

I'm familiar with the Caspian terns due to their huge red bill. My partner and I saw some Caspians that morning but also Sandwich (big black bill), and other smaller sized species (smaller billed, red).

I was wondering if it was Whiskered tern, but these were quick sightings as weather was very windy, and I can't say for sure whether my partner photographed the suspected whiskered tern.

 

[TheBlackGrouse]

I'm familiar with the Caspian terns due to their huge red bill. My partner and I saw some Caspians that morning but also Sandwich (big black bill), and other smaller sized species (smaller billed, red).

I was wondering if it was Whiskered tern, but these were quick sightings as weather was very windy, and I can't say for sure whether my partner photographed the suspected whiskered tern.

Fair enough, that explains a lot.