Caspian Tern
Bushland Beach, January 2021.
These are the worlds largest Tern. Both sexes look alike. The dominant feature is the large black tipped scarlet bill. When the birds are not breeding their crown is white streaked as shown above. Breeding birds have a black crown.
Immature birds have the white streaked crown but also mottled upper parts.
Bushland Beach, January 2021.
They are an aggressive unsociable bird but do form small colonies when breeding. In the North they can breed most months.
Bushland Beach, January 2021.
They hover 10-20 metres above the ground and drop headlong for their prey.
Bushland Beach, January 2021.
They make steady wingbeats in flight and often fly very close to the water top.