Common Gull-billed Tern with Australian Gull-billed Terns, Queensland

Birds of the islands and waters of the South Pacific.
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Michael Szabo
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Common Gull-billed Tern with Australian Gull-billed Terns, Queensland

Postby Michael Szabo » Tue Mar 14, 2023 11:00 am

Greg Roberts has posted these useful photos to Facebook showing a Common Gull-billed Tern (affinis) with Australian Gull-billed Terns (macrotarsa) currently at Maaroom on the Queensland coast.
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Common Gull-billed Tern on the right (smaller)
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Common Gull-billed Tern in the centre (smaller).
335396574_716914356644277_3812032890807609543_n.jpg (154.58 KiB) Viewed 6381 times
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Common Gull-billed Tern on the left (smaller).
335057215_533677322224920_2589860985310074836_n.jpg (284.1 KiB) Viewed 6381 times
My new book 'Wild Wellington Nga Taonga Taiao' can be ordered online here:
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Michael Szabo
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Common Gull-billed Tern + Australian Gull-billed Terns, Maaroom, Queensland

Postby Michael Szabo » Fri Jun 02, 2023 8:47 am

I took these photos of a Common Gull-billed Tern and an Australian Gull-billed Tern right next to each other at Maaroom in Queensland recently on 6/4/23. They show the main distinguishing features of Common GBT in non-breeding plumage - smaller overall size, shorter and straighter bill, small dark eye patch, clean white cap, and darker upper parts (as set out in the Australian Bird Guide on page 107).
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Common Gull-billed Tern + Australian Gull-billed Tern, Maaroom, Queensland, 6/4/23
Common + Aus GBT_2933.JPG (326.13 KiB) Viewed 5676 times
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Common Gull-billed Tern + Australian Gull-billed Tern, Maaroom, Queensland, 6/4/23
Common + Aus GBT_2932.JPG (139.75 KiB) Viewed 5676 times
Common + Aus GBT heads_2931.JPG
Common Gull-billed Tern + Australian Gull-billed Tern, Maaroom, Queensland, 6/4/23
Common + Aus GBT heads_2931.JPG (159 KiB) Viewed 5676 times
My new book 'Wild Wellington Nga Taonga Taiao' can be ordered online here:
https://tepapastore.co.nz/products/wild ... o-o-te-ika
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Michael Szabo
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Re: Common Gull-billed Tern with Australian Gull-billed Terns, Queensland

Postby Michael Szabo » Mon Oct 16, 2023 8:15 pm

Here are some very sharp comparison photos posted today to Facebook by Paul Taylor in coastal South Australia.
Paul taylor AGBT+ CGBT Sth Aus.jpg
Australian Gull-billed Tern (left) and Common Gull-billed Tern, Paul Taylor.
Paul taylor AGBT+ CGBT Sth Aus.jpg (249.42 KiB) Viewed 3085 times
Common GBT paul taylor.jpg
Common Gull-billed Tern, Paul Taylor.
Common GBT paul taylor.jpg (277.87 KiB) Viewed 3085 times
My new book 'Wild Wellington Nga Taonga Taiao' can be ordered online here:
https://tepapastore.co.nz/products/wild ... o-o-te-ika
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Michael Szabo
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Re: Common Gull-billed Tern with Australian Gull-billed Terns, Queensland

Postby Michael Szabo » Wed Feb 14, 2024 7:48 pm

Paul Taylor in South Australia has posted this very useful photo on Facebook showing the relative sizes and plumages of a single Australian Gull-billed Tern with 5 Common Gull-billed Terns and two Caspian Terns. The Common Gull-billed Terns are just starting to acquire some of their breeding plumage before migrating north to Asia to breed in a couple of months. the site is the Northern Gulf St.Vincent.
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426448421_2016435625416271_31066077315426190_n.jpg (402.04 KiB) Viewed 1794 times
My new book 'Wild Wellington Nga Taonga Taiao' can be ordered online here:
https://tepapastore.co.nz/products/wild ... o-o-te-ika
andrewcrossland
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Re: Common Gull-billed Tern with Australian Gull-billed Terns, Queensland

Postby andrewcrossland » Sat Feb 17, 2024 10:06 am

That's a super useful pic!
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Michael Szabo
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Re: Common Gull-billed Tern with Australian Gull-billed Terns, Queensland

Postby Michael Szabo » Sat Feb 17, 2024 7:03 pm

Here's hoping someone gets to take a shot like this over here in NZ one day!
My new book 'Wild Wellington Nga Taonga Taiao' can be ordered online here:
https://tepapastore.co.nz/products/wild ... o-o-te-ika

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