The gull-sized Caspian tern is no wallflower, and as befits its character, the bird is not shy about shouting out to the world. Around water bodies, listen for a harsh croaking yip a bit reminiscent of an upset terrier, sometimes stretched to a longer, drawn-out jee-arrrr!. Melodic these are not. The carrying power of Caspian tern […]
During breeding season the bill, which is black most of the year, is black tipped and the colorful base is dark red-orange. In breeding plumage the common tern is not white on the body as it is the rest of the year. Instead, the underparts are distinctly gray, only a bit paler than the back.
One of our most distinctive birds, the black skimmer is named for its method of foraging—its elongated lower bill (mandible) plows lightly through the water, feeling for small fish. The skimmer’s very long body and bill make its shape easy to pick out in a flock of resting gulls and terns. Listen For Skimmers utter
The western gull is the only common large dark-backed gull in its range. The heavy yellow bill stands out. Adult has a dark gray back and pink legs. First-year birds are all dark brown, becoming more cleanly marked as they reach breeding age in the fourth year. Listen For Low, hoarse calls that sound like
