BirdingNZ.net

Hello everyone!
I have been very impressed with the sheer number of correct answers we've had!! Older viewers, feel free to join in! I've decided to steep up the ball game so here is one of Ian's birds, and yes, it is the scariest of all bird groups: the tern! For this bird, I will give no notes. This is a test of the sheer strength of our birders around the globe!

I really want you to add how you eliminated other species, and what brought you to your conclusion.

So here ya'll go!
Michael

That is a black-fronted tern juvenile! The slatey grey back, the collar around the neck, that patterning on the back, the jizz, all points to a juv BFT for me (plus my recent experience with a similar bird)

White winged Black tern. Black behind the eye, markings on back, Hmmm but I'm not very good at terns

Haha, this is a tricky one Michael!

I picked it straight away having seen said bird in real life, but will remain silent to let others get their answers in. Then edit in my key I.D. points at a later date.

I think its a non-breeding white-winged black tern, only thing is the wingtips are not dark. But the only species I could confuse it with is a black-fronted tern, but the bill is black. I'm kinda lost so will go with the white-winged tern.

I'm not going to say a species but I'm sure I know it very well. Dear little guys. Not that I'm afraid of getting it wrong but I don't want to be pushy.......

It's a Black-Fronted Tern!! Well done to George who has overcome fierce odds to be leading our board of birders (though if I was competing, well, that would be different ).

What I will do is I shall post this image into the Young Birders forum so people can discuss it and use for future reference, which I'm sure will help

Cheers,
Michael