Look for The Franklin’s gull is a small gull with short wings and a short bill, and a dark hood at all times of year. During breeding season, its entire head is black except for white crescents above and below its eyes. At other times of year, the hood is restricted to the back of […]
Look For The Bonaparte’s gull is the smallest gull species commonly found in North America. It has a white tail and underparts and a light gray back. Its wings are also light gray with white on the outer edges and black tips on its primaries. During the breeding season, the Bonaparte’s gull has a white
Look For The large (18 to 21 inches long) and striking royal tern is easily recognized by its size, white body, pale gray wings, crested black cap, and orange bill. The only bird it may be confused with is the even larger Caspian tern, but that bird has a blood-red bill and no visible crest.
Perhaps the best field mark for identifying Forster’s tern is its silvery white upperwing highlights. It can take a few seconds of watching and at least reasonably favorable light for you to pick up the contrast of bright silvery primaries against the pale gray of much of the rest of the wing, but once you see
