Hi Terry/Birding-ausers,
2. How can these "commic" terns be identified without being in the hand
(and maybe even then)?
In my experience, which is reasonably limited in NZ, but have seen
both common and arctic in the UK, and both with Antarctic in South
Africa, the two are seperable in the field. However, it is often the
jizz and shape of the bird which gives it away. When standing
Arctics have VERY short legs, so it looks like they are almost
resting on the ground. Also the breast and belly of Arctics are
usually very pronounced and give the bird a very rounded appearance
at the front. If you were to sit them on their tail, they would have
an 'ice-cream cone' shape (without the head - I am not suggesting you
try this!). They are difficult though..
In New Zealand, where there are few confirmed records of common tern,
and even fewer of Arctic, the main problem is seperating common from
the common white-fronted tern. Usually common terns start to 'tern'
up around Dec/Jan when the white-fronteds are moulting out of their
breeding plumage. Several of us over here in NZ feel it shouldn't be
'commic' tern but 'common/white-fronted tern'.
Hope this helps,
Brent Stephenson
Birding-Aus is on the Web at
www.shc.melb.catholic.edu.au/home/birding/index.html
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