Whiskered Tern

The whiskered tern is the largest of the marsh terns. Its size, black cap, strong bill and purposeful flight recall a common tern, but its short, forked-looking tail and dark grey breeding plumage above and below are typical of marsh terns. The summer adult has white cheeks and a red bill and legs. In winter the black cap is flecked with white, leaving a dark, C-shaped band from the ear to the hindcrown, and the rump is pale grey all year (Wikipedia, general species account).

It breeds in colonies on inland marshes, sometimes among black-headed gulls, which give some protection. Tropical populations are resident, while European and Asian breeders winter south to Africa and the Indian subcontinent. Geographic races differ mainly in size and small plumage details. In India it is mainly a winter migrant, with localized summer breeding. SoIB 2023 estimates a long-term decline of about 57% and a current fall of about 5.5% a year, and rates it a High conservation priority (Wikipedia, general species account; SoIB 2023).