Terns are not my strong point.
Red or Yellow bill narrows it a little but I am really not sure of these.
Have tried to show some different angles, but none were on the ground, so no help there.
All were taken at the barrages a couple of weeks ago
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The yellow billed one is a Crested Tern, the other 3 are Whiskered Terns.
Thanks SteveM, is it the mottling on the body of the Whiskered that identifies it or something else?
Cheers
Rick, the bill colour, shape & length compared to the Crested Terns bill, & also the tail, shortish with squarish corners, not heavily forked compared to a Crested Terns tail, point towards a childonias or marsh type Tern, e.g. the local Whiskered Tern or the migratory White-winged Black Tern. The black cap indicates Whiskered Tern & not White-winged Black Tern.
Besides all that, yes the dark mottling is a very good indicator for Whiskered Terns which have dark bellies when in breeding plumage. I guess your birds are moulting either in or out of breeding plumage.
Thanks again.