Little Tern vs Yellow-billed Tern

Little Tern

Sternula albifrons

Small57 gCoastal

This is a small tern, 21–25 cm long with a 41–47 cm wingspan. It is not likely to be confused with other species, apart from fairy tern and Saunders's tern, because of its size and white forehead in breeding plumage. Its thin sharp bill is yellow with a black tip and its legs are also yellow. In winter, the forehead is more extensively white, the bill is black and the legs duller.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recorded by Sonothèque ADVL · Begging call, call · Genêts, Manche, Normandie, France · CC0

Photo: Patrick Connolly · CC BY 4.0

Yellow-billed Tern

Sternula superciliaris

Small46 gRiverine

It measures approximately 23–25 centimeters in body length and weighs 40–57 grams. It has a yellow beak and feet, silvery grey wings and white underbody and forehead. Its crown, nape, and eyeline are black. Juveniles are brown and white without the black cap.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Cláudio D. Timm · CC BY 2.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Little Tern and Yellow-billed Tern.