Terns in North Sulawesi

Birds of the islands and waters of the South Pacific.
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Richard_Jones
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Terns in North Sulawesi

Postby Richard_Jones » Fri Nov 04, 2022 1:19 am

I recently came across terns in North Sulawesi: Some out at sea off Siladen Island and the others above Lake Tondano. Can someone help identify them?
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Michael Szabo
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Re: Terns in North Sulawesi

Postby Michael Szabo » Fri Nov 04, 2022 6:48 am

Have you got any photos of them?
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Richard_Jones
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Re: Terns in North Sulawesi

Postby Richard_Jones » Fri Nov 04, 2022 9:55 am

Michael.
Yes, and I thought I had attached photos (JPGs) but somehow they didn't get through when I submitted. The wifi here is terrible - very low signal.
Let's try again ...
Richard
Tern, Lake Tondano (Sulawesi, Oct 2022).jpeg
Tern, Lake Tondano (Sulawesi, Oct 2022).jpeg (229.44 KiB) Viewed 3282 times
Tern, Siladen Island (Sulawesi, Oct 2022).jpeg
Tern, Siladen Island (Sulawesi, Oct 2022).jpeg (849.05 KiB) Viewed 3282 times
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Oscar Thomas
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Re: Terns in North Sulawesi

Postby Oscar Thomas » Sat Nov 05, 2022 1:32 pm

The first is a juvenile Whiskered tern (or potentially a White-winged black tern if that is white on the rump) and the seconds looks to be an immature Sooty tern moulting into adult plumage, but it’s a difficult angle to evaluate.
sjacques
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Re: Terns in North Sulawesi

Postby sjacques » Sat Nov 05, 2022 4:03 pm

I broadly agree, but would discount WWBT completely. The first bird is a juvenile Whiskered over WWBT in my view;

Broad wing bases,
Lack of dark carpal bar,
Chunky build and strong bill,
Head pattern - similar aged WWBT would have dark 'earphones' extending below eye.

Cheers,
Sean
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Richard_Jones
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Re: Terns in North Sulawesi

Postby Richard_Jones » Sat Nov 05, 2022 4:19 pm

Hi Oscar and Sean.
Thanks for your IDs. Appreciated.
Regards,
Richard

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