Crested Tern

Description:

The Crested Tern is an overall grey and white bird with a black cap with short, shaggy crest at the rear. Lower edge of black cap is in line with bottom of eye. Bill is slightly curved down, lemon-yellow. Below cap is white including white band above base of bill. Underside and breast are white, wings and back are pale grey. Wings are long and tail is forked. Legs and feet are black. Reaches 40 to 50 centimetres. Breeding birds have a well defined black cap; in non-breeding birds the front of the cap moves nearer to the top of the head and the front edge is poorly defined. Common large tern on bays and harbours, often roosts on boats and jetties or rests on sand beaches or isolated rocks. May be in mixed flocks with gullls and other terns. Plunges from several metres height to take prey just under the water surface.

Habitat:

Lives along the coast on ocean beaches, estuaries and coastal lagoons. Occasionally on salt lakes. Distributed around the Australian coast, including Tasmania. Common bird around the Australian coast.