Appearance:

Differs from Common and Arctic Tern by; noticably shorter wings, longer streamers, much paler grey upperparts, pure white underparts (faint rosy wash not very conspicuous), black bill (red base in breeding birds), dark outer primaries and no dark edge to inner primaries. Amount of red in bill increases as breeding season progresses, but also varies geographically. Wingbeats shallower and much quicker than in Common and Arctic Tern. Fishes with characteristic diagonal dives. Despite the long streamers, the birds appear short-tailed in flight, but head and bill are long and slender. The pale plumage, dark bill and giss recalls a small Sandwich Tern. Adult winter plumage with all dark bill and white forehead. Juveniles resembles juvenile Sandwich Terns, with more complete dark cap than Arctic and Common, and much more contrasting markings on back (especially to wings).

Sound:

Extremely harsh calls. Like mix of Caspian and Arctic Tern. Very hard and raspy "kreeeet", harder and higher pitched than Caspian Tern, but equally harsh. Other calls include more Arctic/Common tern-like short "kek", and similar.

Contact call:

Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

CC

CC-photo:USFWS/Southeast, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Werner Witte, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Anita363, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Mike Prince, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

Differs from Herring Gull in smaller size, lighter bill and light flight. Head profile rounded, and the small bill lacks the red spot of the larger gulls. Told apart from Kittwake by greenish legs and large white spot on wing tips. Juveniles quite similar to young Ring-billed Gulls, but latter have paler grey back, heavier, pinkish bill with dark tip, pale mid-wing panel and less contrasting terminal band of tail.

Sound:

Various mewing sounds. Similar in form to Herring Gull, but much higher pitched.

Call:

Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC