FreeLists / birdky / [birdky] Tern ID: 8-13 Falls of Ohio

["Christina W" <hiker80@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello,

We need help identifying 1 tern we saw at Falls of the Ohio on August 13.

It's the first tern I've ever seen so I'm not sure if it was a least tern, a 
royal tern, or another tern. It definitely was not a black crowned night 
heron because it was much thinner than those herons we saw there, and was 
behaving much differently. It was flying more and flapping wings faster, 
skimming the water for food in flight, rather than standing motionless on 
the rocks waiting for food as these herons were doing. Geographically, the 
least tern would make the most sense. It had a solid flat black cap in its 
head and a dark yellow or light orange beak, which is why I thought it is 
most likely a least or royal tern. I could not see any white in between the 
black cap and the top of the bill that would have identified it as a least 
tern. The bird appeared to have black legs, which would suggest it was a 
royal tern, but geographically the chances of it being a royal tern may be 
slim. It had a forked white tail. Wings were very light gray on top and 
white on bottom, with black or dark gray tips on either the top or bottom of 
the outermost primary wing feathers. We saw it several times with binoculars 
and a spotting scope. Although it was early evening, there appeared to be 
enough light so hopefully we got the leg colors correct with the scope when 
it briefly perched on the rocks.
Thanks for your help.

Take Care,

Christina and Jeremy

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