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Brief #
Grey upperparts, white underparts, a black cap, strong black bill and black legs.
Description #
A fairly large and powerful tern, similar in size and general appearance to a Sandwich tern, but the short thick gull-like bill, broad wings, long legs and robust body are distinctive. The summer adult has grey upperparts, white underparts, a black cap, strong black bill and black legs. In winter, the cap is lost, and there is a dark patch through the eye like a Forster's tern or a Mediterranean gull. Juvenile gull-billed terns have a fainter mask, but otherwise look much like winter adults. Juvenile Sandwich terns have a short bill, and are frequently mistaken for gull-billed tern.
Measurements #
Length: 33 - 42 cm
Wingspan: 76 - 91 cm
Weight: 150 - 292 g
Gallery #
