Caspian Tern

Hydroprogne caspia (formerly Sterna caspia)

Appearance:

• Large, gull-like tern
• Large, thick, red-orange bill with dark tip
• White head with black cap
• White neck and belly
• Pale gray upper wings and back
• White, shallowly forked tail
• Pale underwings with dark primary feathers
• Black legs

Listen to its call.

Before today, my knowledge of terns consisted of crossword puzzle definitions like 'sea eagle' or 'gull-like seabird'.  However, I now know there are ten genera of terns, which were once considered a subfamily of the gull family. This bird, the only one in its genus, is the world's largest tern. I saw a number of them at Esquimalt Lagoon earlier this week. They are almost the size of a large gull, which is probably why I've never noticed them before, but they have a distinct way of flying that sets them apart from the gulls. 

This one was flying over the water with its bill pointing down, when it suddenly plunged in to catch a fish.

Learn more about the Caspian Tern.

Additional pictures: