Roseate Tern

Sterna dougallii

Michaelmas Cay, off Cairns, FNE Qld IMG_2140 20210516 - bangsii non-breeding on left, moulting from breeding in centre
Crested Terns on right. Some Roseate have pink-tinged underparts, long tail streamers when in fresh breeding plumage.

Notes: Medium-sizes Sterna. Long slender bill; pale grey upperparts. Unlike Common Tern,
white inner edges to primaries form a thick white line along top of folded wing. Adult breeding:
neat black cap from bill to nape; legs coral-red; bill black changing to red during chick-feeding
period. Non-breeding: black half-cap; black bill & legs. Ssp bangsii (bill never red at tip) breeds
Asia, to Aust Apr–Aug. Ssp gracilis in Aust breeding plumage mainly Sep–Mar. Exclusively marine.

Range from Morcombe & Stewart©