Antarctic Tern vs Black-naped Tern

Antarctic Tern

Sterna vittata

Medium139 gMarine

The Antarctic tern is a medium-sized tern ranging from 35 to 40 cm (14 to 16 in) in length with a wingspan of 74 to 79 cm (29 to 31 in). It weighs between 150 and 180 g (5.3 and 6.3 oz) but it tends to be heavier during the winter months. In breeding plumage, the tern has light grey body and wings. Its deeply forked tail, lower back just above it and cheeks are white. It also has a distinctive black cap that reaches from the nape down to the bill and the eye is brownish-black. The bill, legs and feet are bright red.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Ingvild Riska · CC BY 4.0

Black-naped Tern

Sterna sumatrana

Medium106 gMarine

The black-naped tern is named from the black band beginning at the eyes connecting behind the head and descending the back of the neck. The rest of their plumage is white, with pale silvery-grey wings and mantle, apart from the outermost primary feather which has a narrow black outer web. The tail is white, and deeply forked, extending (like the related roseate and white-fronted terns) beyond the wingtips on perched birds. The beaks and legs are black. They have a body length of 30–35 cm and a wingspan of 66 cm. Adults weigh between 97 and 120 g. Hatchlings are mottled brown. Voice: This tern calls with short, high-pitched, repeated sharp notes; "chit", "chip", "chrrut", "tsip".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: oak123 · CC BY 4.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Antarctic Tern and Black-naped Tern.