Lesser Crested Tern vs West African Crested Tern

Lesser Crested Tern

Thalasseus bengalensis

Medium209 gCoastal

This is a medium-large tern, 35–43 cm long and with a 88–105 cm wingspan; its weight ranges from 185–242 g. It is very similar in size and general appearance to its three very close relatives Sandwich tern, Elegant tern and Chinese crested tern. The summer adult has a black cap, black legs and a long sharp orange bill. The upperwings, rump and central tail feathers are grey and the underparts white. The primary flight feathers darken during the summer. In winter, the forehead becomes white. The call is a loud grating noise like Sandwich tern.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: mourad-harzallah · CC BY 4.0

West African Crested Tern

Thalasseus albididorsalis

Medium380 gMarine

The West African crested tern is one of the three larger crested terns, along with royal tern and greater crested tern. Its tail is shallowly forked and the adult's bill is long and orange. It is about 50 cm (20 in) long, with a wingspan between 125–135 cm (49–53 in), and weighs 320–440 g (11–16 oz) with a mean weight of 367 g (12.9 oz). In breeding plumage its underside is white and upper parts silvery grey; the top of the head is black with a shaggy crest at the rear. As in all Thalasseus terns, the primary feathers are silvery when fresh, but soon become blackish with wear.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: rangersara · CC0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Lesser Crested Tern and West African Crested Tern.