Bridled Tern Identification

A medium-sized tern with a long, deeply forked tail and long, narrow wings. Breeding adult has a black cap, white line above the eye, and black line through the eye. The back is gray with brownish-blackish wings and striking white underparts.

At close range, note that white stripe extends beyond the eye (whereas in similar Sooty Tern, the white forehead ends just above the front of the eye).

A medium-sized tern with a long, white-edged tail. Breeding adult has a black cap, white line above the eye, black line through the eye, white underparts, and a grayish back.

Juvenile has shorter tail than adult, white edging to back feathers, and extensive white speckling on dark head feathers.

In flight, note mostly white underwing, with black trailing edge.

Lays a single egg in a simple scrape well concealed under bushes and trees, in rock crevices, or under large rocks, ledges, or cliffs.

Frequently rests on seaweed, driftwood, Styrofoam, and other debris at sea.

Graceful and acrobatic in flight.

Nests on small tropical and subtropical islands, often placing egg under a large rock.

Juvenile has white underparts, mostly white underwings, and a shorter tail than adult.

In flight, note broad white edge to long, deeply forked tail.

Adults arrive at nesting islands en masse at the start of the breeding season.