Black-naped Tern vs Snowy-crowned Tern

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

Snowy-crowned Tern

Sterna trudeaui

Medium153 gWetland

The snowy-crowned tern is 28 to 35 cm (11 to 14 in) long with a wingspan of 76 to 78 cm (30 to 31 in) and weighs 146 to 160 g (5.1 to 5.6 oz). It has a rather blocky head, a thick neck, long wings, and a forked tail. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults in breeding plumage have a white head and neck with a black band through the eye. Their upperparts are pale gray with a whitish rump and uppertail coverts. Their underparts are grayish white. Their upperwing is pale gray with silvery primaries and the underwing is white. Voice: The snowy-crowned tern's call is "a series of rapid notes "je-je-je-je", or a short, grating "jeeer"."

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: gabi_otas · CC BY 4.0

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