Snowy-crowned Tern vs White-fronted Tern

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

White-fronted Tern

Sterna striata

Medium129 gCoastal

The white-fronted tern is an average-sized tern; its dimensions are 35–43 cm (14–17 in) in length, with a wingspan between 79 and 82 cm (31 and 32 in); the male weighs on average 130 g (4.6 oz). Females are marginally smaller than males, but this is difficult to determine when observing individuals in the wild. Breaking down their monochromatic colouring, the white-fronted tern's lightest features are its all-white body, tail and underwing, with the upper side of the wings a light silvery-grey hue. Voice: A very dull crek is used in courtship when the male is flying above groups, individuals may respond with the same noise. When descending upon intruders, they will let out a continuous keark. Generally calling between individuals is a high-pitched siet used frequently during flight, it will be repeated over and over in particular intervals.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Joe Dillon · CC BY 4.0

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