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Bird Identification: CLOSED: Royal Tern with Orange Legs?

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    Communities > Forums > Bird Identification
    Forum: Bird IdentificationReplies: 5, Views: 29
    AuthorContent
    Elphaba
    Houston, TX (Zone 9a)

    August 3, 2012 1:47 PM

    Post #9228467

    Yes, that is the question. Do juvi Royal Terns have orange legs? Can't find that written anywhere but then I'm still guide-book challenged. Included are pics with a normal looking Royal Tern.

    Thumbnail by Elphaba   Thumbnail by Elphaba   Thumbnail by Elphaba   Thumbnail by Elphaba
    Click an image for an enlarged view.

    flatpickit
    Charleston, SC

    August 3, 2012 2:57 PM

    Post #9228542

    A small percentage of juveniles in Royal Tern populations have yellow-orange legs according to David Sibley.

    http://sibleyguides.blogspot.com/2007_09_01_archive.html

    Interesting. I don't think I've ever noticed this. Thanks for posting!
    Elphaba
    Houston, TX (Zone 9a)

    August 3, 2012 4:18 PM

    Post #9228632

    Thanks for finding that info. Couldn't figure out why my guide said that juvies had yellowish bills but didn't bother to mention the orange legs which are more obvious. Guess they're only obvious if they have 'em!

    Thanks again.

    Resin

    Resin
    Northumberland
    United Kingdom (Zone 9a)

    August 3, 2012 5:38 PM

    Post #9228713

    Interesting one, surprisingly bright orange, not just 'muddy-orange' as might be more expected.

    A Cabot's Tern in the 3rd pic too.

    Resin
    Elphaba
    Houston, TX (Zone 9a)

    August 4, 2012 6:46 AM

    Post #9229126

    Glad you said that Resin b/c I thought it was a Gull-billed Tern. There were a ton of Cabot's/Sandwich terns around.

    Resin

    Resin
    Northumberland
    United Kingdom (Zone 9a)

    August 4, 2012 12:51 PM

    Post #9229466

    Elphaba wrote:Glad you said that Resin b/c I thought it was a Gull-billed Tern. There were a ton of Cabot's/Sandwich terns around.


    Gull-billed has a shorter, stouter bill, and no black on the nape in non-breeding plumage (just a black eye patch, similar to non-breeding Forster's)

    Resin

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    Other Bird Identification Threads you might be interested in:

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    CLOSED: can anybody ID this bird (#2) lilyfantn 15 Dec 12, 2009 2:52 AM
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    CLOSED: Is this? Marilyn_FL 16 Jul 3, 2009 9:15 PM
    CLOSED: This was in a field across from my house in north Jersey ago wilkins2 2 Mar 11, 2007 12:18 PM


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