ABOUT THIS SPECIES
ELEGANT TERN – (Species Account Weblog #71)
TAXONOMIC TREE:
- ORDER: Charadriiformes,
- FAMILY: Laridae,
- BINOMIAL NAME: Thalasseus elegans
The Elegant Tern is a long-billed tern of the Pacific coast, from the U.S. to Chile. Pale grey above with shaggy black cap in breeding plumage; nonbreeding birds develop white brow. Greatest area mark is the slender orange invoice with a slight droop. Strictly coastal; generally discovered on seashores and estuaries. (from Birds of the World)
SIMILAR SPECIES
Grownup Elegant Tern is distinctive in look and never simply confused with different species occurring inside its breeding vary. Of those, Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) is probably the most related. Elegant Tern is distinguished by narrower, comparatively longer invoice; smaller measurement; slimmer physique; shorter legs; longer, shaggier crest; and extra deeply forked tail.
DISTRIBUTION
PERSONAL OBSERVATION ANECDOTES
In Costa Rica we noticed Elegant Terns blended in with Royal Terns and a few Sandwich Terns whereas on the boat tour on the mouth of the Tárcoles River.
PHOTO GALLERY
**A few of these Photograph Gallery photos (all taken by me) have been taken in different close by international locations.
RECENT BLOG POSTS
View the 5 most up-to-date Birds & Birding in Costa Rica collection weblog posts under.
