Gull-billed Tern Photo Gallery

Rather stocky, medium-sized tern with long wings and a thick black bill. Breeding bird has an entirely black crown.

Stocky tern with a thick black bill and black legs. Nonbreeding adult has a dark smudge behind the eye.

Breeding adult has a full black cap, thick black bill, and long black legs. At rest, the long wingtips extend well beyond the tip of the short tail.

In flight note slightly forked tail and dark gray tips to outermost flight feathers.

Juvenile has a smudgy gray patch behind the eye and a thick bill that is often pale at the base.

Nonbreeding adult has an overall white-headed look with limited smudging around the eye. Heavy black bill is distinctive in all plumages.

Note notched tail in flight and dusky tips to the primaries.

Nests on saltmarsh islands as well as sandy barrier beaches. Catches a variety of prey, relying less on fish than other terns.

Get Instant ID help for 650+ North American birds.

Need Bird ID Help? Try Merlin

Compare with Similar Species