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Roseate Tern Identification

Roseate Tern Breeding adult
Breeding adult

Medium-sized, very pale gray tern with a long forked tail. Bill color varies from entirely black to having orange at the base depending on time of year. Note black crown and rounded head.

© Nick Dorian | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, July 08, 2017
Roseate Tern Breeding adult
Breeding adult

Breeding birds have an black cap and a thin bill. The bill is black, but turns orange at the base late in the summer. Note orange legs.

© Ryan Schain | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, August 06, 2011
Roseate Tern Breeding adult
Breeding adult

Nests and roosts on rocky islands in colonies with other terns.

© Benjamin Clock | Macaulay LibraryMaine, July 12, 2012
Roseate Tern Breeding adult
Breeding adult

The long, forked tail extends beyond the wingtips when resting. The pale rose color on the belly for which it is named is often not visible.

© Ian Davies | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, August 14, 2016
Roseate Tern Juvenile
Juvenile

Juveniles have a scaly looking back and a smudgy crown and forehead.

© Ian Davies | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, August 14, 2016
Roseate Tern Breeding adult
Breeding adult

Flies with stiff, but shallow rowing wingbeats. Note black cap and long forked tail.

© Ian Davies | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, May 30, 2010
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Adult Description

  • Medium-sized tern.
  • White with black cap.
  • Tail long and deeply forked.
  • Wings white.
  • Bill black.

Immature Description

Juvenile with dark head, and scaly pattern across back. Immature resembles winter adult, but has darker wingtips.
Relative Size

Relative Sizebetween robin and crowbetween robin and crow
Measurements
  • Both Sexes
    • Length: 13.0-16.1 in (33-41 cm)
    • Weight: 3.2-4.9 oz (90-140 g)

Species in This Family

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers(Order: Charadriiformes, Family:Laridae)

Black-legged KittiwakeBlack-legged Kittiwake
Ivory GullIvory Gull
Sabine's GullSabine's Gull
Bonaparte's GullBonaparte's Gull
Black-headed GullBlack-headed Gull
Little GullLittle Gull
Ross's GullRoss's Gull
Laughing GullLaughing Gull
Franklin's GullFranklin's Gull
Heermann's GullHeermann's Gull
Mew GullMew Gull
Ring-billed GullRing-billed Gull
Western GullWestern Gull
California GullCalifornia Gull
Herring GullHerring Gull
Iceland GullIceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed GullLesser Black-backed Gull
Glaucous-winged GullGlaucous-winged Gull
Glaucous GullGlaucous Gull
Great Black-backed GullGreat Black-backed Gull
Least TernLeast Tern
Gull-billed TernGull-billed Tern
Caspian TernCaspian Tern
Black TernBlack Tern
Roseate TernRoseate Tern
Common TernCommon Tern
Arctic TernArctic Tern
Forster's TernForster's Tern
Royal TernRoyal Tern
Sandwich TernSandwich Tern
Elegant TernElegant Tern
Black SkimmerBlack Skimmer

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