Date: 8/8/26 11:35 pm From: Lola Ross <lolabones...> Subject: Re: [MBBIRDS] Royal Tern?
Thanks, all! I appreciate the input from everyone. It’s no fun being wrong,
but I know it’s a great way to learn!
Immature ELTE it is!
On Sat, Aug 8, 2026 at 9:17 PM Kyan Russell <kyansrussell...> wrote:
> Looks like a juvenile Elegant Tern by size as Jeff pointed out. Royals are
> closer in size to Caspian. Also, young Elegants' bills start out short like
> Royal and get longer as they get older. Common Tern would be significantly
> smaller, with a thinner beak and different head and wing pattern.
>
> There seem to be quite a few Royals here in Monterey this week, so
> definitely keep checking!
>
> Happy birding,
> Kai
>
> On Sat, Aug 8, 2026 at 7:38 PM Jeff Manker <fireweed8...> wrote:
>
>> Lola,
>>
>> I am not an expert on terns either, but size alone would make me say it
>> is not a ROTE. Comparing it only to the birds that it is flying in front
>> of, it seems smaller than both of them. If it were a ROTE it would be close
>> to the size of the CATE and yet it appears smaller than the ELTE.
>>
>> Could it be a Common Tern?
>>
>> Jeff Manker
>> Alameda
>>
>> On Sat, Aug 8, 2026 at 7:05 PM Lola Ross <lolabones...> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>> Brian Scanlon and I looked at a lot of terns on 21st Beach on Thursday,
>>> August 6 (nice meeting you and birding with you, Brian!). We found several
>>> candidates for the ROTE that had been spotted the day before, but we kept
>>> eliminating them as young ELTEs. However, going back through my photos
>>> today, there were a few birds that gave me pause, none more than this one.
>>> I’m talking about the one with open wings, landing in front of the CATE. I
>>> may be off, but to me it looks like there are a couple of good markers for
>>> ROTE, based on what I can find in Sibley, Merlin, and elsewhere online.
>>>
>>> 1. The darkness of the bill for what is clearly a juvenile/immature bird.
>>> 2. The gonydeal angle on the bill looks (to my eye) like it is more
>>> forward on the bill, closer to ⅔ of the way away from the base, which would
>>> be a possible indicator for ROTE.
>>> 3. The “obvious dark bars,” as Sibley says, on the wings.
>>>
>>> However, I know I am no expert, and I would appreciate a weigh-in before
>>> I add it to my eBird checklist for that outing. I don't want to rely on
>>> Merlin Photo ID (which also says this is a ROTE).
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Lola
>>>
>>
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>>
>
