Whiskered Tern

The Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) is a small buoyant 'marsh' tern in the family Laridae that superficially resembles the Common Tern, but is stockier and with a less forked tail. The breeding adult has a distinctive dark smoky gray body & contrasting white cheeks (which can look like broad white "whiskers" in flight) underneath a black cap. The non-breeding plumage is a pale silvery gray overall with a faded shadow of the cap. Note the rather stout bill (albeit thinner than Gull-billed Tern) and square tail. It feeds by picking from the surface, not splash-diving like typical terns. Common around wetlands, lakes, and rivers.

#wildartworks, #Canon, #Bird, #Birdinginthewild, #BirdWatching, #Wildlife, #conservationphotography, #bhigwan, #BhigwanBirdSanctuary, #Kumbhargaon, #ujnibackwaters, #whiskeredtern, #tern, #marshtern,