Bridled Tern Similar Species Comparison

Main SpeciesBridled Tern

Breeding adult

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.

Breeding adult

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).

Adult

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.

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Juvenile

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

Breeding adult

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

Adult

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

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Nonbreeding adult

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

Juvenile

Graceful and acrobatic in flight.

Breeding adult

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

Juvenile

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

Breeding adult

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

Flock

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

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