Lesser Crested Tern

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80 Mile Beach, NW WA IMG_4137 20180922 - Breeding (wholly black cap to bill) w. non-breeding (white forehead)

Notes: Smaller than similar Crested Tern, but paler and with neater appearance. Slender yellow-
orange bill. Breeding plumage has wholly black head (reaching to bill), non-breeding plumage has
white forehead. Juvenile: dull legs, secondaries w. dark centers, & a weakly patterned upper-wing.
Call a noisy “kerrrick”. Our ssp sedentary. Strictly coastal, usually found on beaches & estuaries.

Range from Morcombe^©

Foreshore, Elim Beach, Cook, CYP, FNE Qld IMG_4138 20201006 - breeding plumage x 4 (orange-yellow bill, black cap
reaches bill) w. breeding plumage Crested Tern (larger; lemon-yellow bill, white forehead)

80 Mile Beach, NW WA IMG_4138 20180922 - non-breeding w. young Crested Tern

Foreshore, Cairns, FNE Qld IMG_4331 20210304 - non-breeding plumage. CLICK for one at Beaumaris, Melbourne, S Vic
20210730.

Foreshore, Cairns North, FNE Qld IMG_7072 20231203 - breeding plumage.

Elim Beach, FN Qld IMG_4744 20171010 - breeding plumage w. 2½ breeding plumage Caspian Terns.

80 Mile Beach, NW WA IMG_4141 20180922 - Non-breeding

Roebuck Bay, Broome, NW WA IMG_2255 20180911

Crab Creek, Roebuck Bay, Broome, NW WA IMG_3924 20180920 - non-breeding plumage w. Australian Tern in breeding plumage.

Foreshore, Elim Beach, Cook, CYP, FNE Qld IMG_8407 20201005 - non-breeding plumage Crested Tern bathing, joined by
Lesser Crested Tern which then flys off. A Little Tern in foreground.