Hi!
Saw the previous topic about the same subject, but, still didn't help.
Taken at Scarborough, Qld.
Photos are the same bird, cropped quite a bit.
I am leaning to Lesser, going by the smaller bill compared to the head. Thinner and doesn't seem to have that deeper wedge shape under the bill.
But what do I know, that's why I am on here.
Thanks for the help again.
Cheers
Paul
No takers on the Crested Terns, so I'll give them a go. I think it's a regular(Greater) Crested Tern. We don't have Lesser Crested in my area, so not too familiar with them, but I believe Lesser Crested don't have the black spotting on the sides of the neck .
Crested Tern not Lesser Crested Tern - I use the bill colour; CT is yellow and LCT is orange: pic attached although not the best; from Feb '12 with no post-processing
Peter
Hi
Sorry not too get back to you sooner, but, I thought I try the experts and sent it to Qld Muesum.
Here is their reply.
Good Afternoon Paul,
Tern identification in general is notoriously difficult (about on par with wader/shorebird identification). However it is my opinion that the bird in your photograph is a Lesser Crested Tern (Thalasseus bengalensis).
Here are my reasons:
Though it is easier to see when the two species are side by side, there is a size difference. Where this is most obvious is the size of the head and the wings proportionate to the body. The Crested Tern has a “Boofy” appearance due to the head and beak being quite large (not as large as a Caspian Tern but noticeable). The Lesser Crested Tern has a smaller head in comparison and while not as sleek and elegant as say a Little or a Whiskered Tern has a more compact and put-together appearance than the Crested Tern.
The wings of the Crested Tern stick out much further past the tail than do the wings of a Lesser Crested Tern and in flight they are noticeably larger.
The other feature is of course beak colour. The beak of a Crested Tern is a pale almost lemon yellow (though not quite that vibrant). The beak of a Lesser Crested Tern should be organgey-yellow. Though this is mentioned in all of the field guides it isn’t always the best indicator. However in the case of your photographs the colour is consistent and the beak always shows as orangey-yellow.
I have included links to a website with plenty of photographs of both species for comparison:
http://www.graemechapman.com.au/library/viewphotos.php?c=512
http://www.graemechapman.com.au/library/viewphotos.php?c=509
I hope this information has been helpful in answering your question, if you have anything further to ask please contact us.
Thank you,
Rebecca Ryan
Information Officer
So with that I will close this and put it down as a Lesser Crested Tern.
Thanks for your help again, cheers
Paul
Kippa-ring, Qld.
thanks Paul, clearly I will be looking more closely at the crested-type terns at Scarborough in future
Peter
Sorry, but I'm not convinced that your bird is a Lesser Crested.
Lesser Crested never have that much black on the sides of the neck, in non-breeding they have a much more receded black cap(i.e. the white goes further back on the crown, & the bill on your bird is not a orange enough, its bill colour is well with the normal colour range for (Great) Crested Terns. Compare the head pattern & bill colour on your bird to the real Lesser Crested photo posted by pacman(Peter), there is clear differences there.