Adult Forster's Tern In Molt

Agree DiDi. I was hoping the Rare Texas Bird Alert people would get all excited because I found something unusual. sigh

LOL What a let down, I was fancying a long distance Tern bird! (:

OK folks, the expert has spoken! I sent this photo to the TX rare bird alert over the internet. WOW, soon I got this nice lady's reply. "Susan at NARBA kindly forwarded your excellent photo to me, as she knows I'm very interested in potentially rare birds in south Texas, and I love identification puzzles. This is a Forster's Tern, an adult in molt - that is partly why it looks a bit odd, especially near the wing tip - there is gap on each side where the new feathers are growing. The old feathers are the paler, whiter outer 2 feathers, and the newer primaries are the darker, shorter ones - the feathers to bridge the gape are growing. The broad, dark wing tip is good for Forster's Tern, which can look very white above. The isolated black eye patch and straight black bill are also good for winter adult Forster's. One key field mark is the tail. The INSIDE web of the longest tail feathers is dark. In common in an Arctic Tern the OUTSIDE web of these feathers are entirely white, as is the under wing tip. ........................... Winter terns are tough as they are so variable with age. Mary G. So......................NOW I-we know! Thanks so much for your help and I just loved the tern jokes! Ro

You are hilarious!!!! And this is a really nice photo!

Thanks everyone for taking your tern to comment. I appreciate it.

Well I guess it is my tern to talk about the suggestions on this thread that has terned out to be quite a discussion with many wanting to take a tern at helping me learn what kind of tern this is. If we can come up with a name for the tern I will change the name of the photo! Robert suggested a Roseate Tern, so I immediately terned to my bird book(s) to the tern section. The Roseate Tern are "uncommon and highly maritime. Roseate Terns usually come ashore only to nest. Rare on the mid-atlantic coast in late spring". The range map indicated the terns would be out in the ocean off the FL coast. If the bird terned left and flew 1200 miles it would be on the tip of TX where I saw it. I did like the shape of the tail though. I terned to Google to check it out, but was unable to find any other images that terned out to look like my tern. The Caspian Tern could be here but it has an orange bill in all ages and has a shallow V tail. So, it would appear that it terned out not to be either of those terns. Wonder who will take their tern next?

But that's what kind it is - lets name him Bill

If the bill is orange its caspian, if its not, its roseate. I'm not a birder, but this is what I've been taught.

Notice the Icon of the tern on the left?

OK! This has "terned' into a must watch thread! LOL

Don't be silly. It's obviously a left tern.

Ha ha, Jan. But His Tern or Her Tern is not named in the bird book. It just bugs me not to be able to identify a bird. I dont consider my self to be an expert like some in the world are knowing every plumage and all, but I am pretty good at just being able to call out the name of a bird when I see it. I surprise myself at times too. A name will pop into my head and I will wonder where that came from, but when I checked the bird book I would be right. That is fun! Big smile!

Roena, could be a His Tern or a Her Tern....just a thought....

At least your guess had both black legs and beak, but from Namibia to Texas is a long way! LOL I joined a birding site today and posted the question of what tern is this so maybe I will get an answer. In some of my research I found one photo that mentioned it had "stirred up a lot a activity on the internet". Wouldn't that be a hoot if I found a really rare bird on the Texas Gulf Coast! Wow. Talk about making your day! Thanks for trying to help me DiDi. No wonder that bird was not in my North American bird books.

If so, he sure is a long way from home. (:

Nice shot! Appears to be a Damara Tern.