Juvenile lesser crested terns resemble same-age Sandwich terns, but with a yellow-orange bill, and paler overall, with only faint dark crescents on the mantle feathers.
Not listed
At a glance
FamilyGulls, Terns, and Skimmers
SizeMedium
RarityCommon
HabitatStrictly coastal, usually found on beaches and estuaries.
Best timeReported across most months in Western Australia, with no narrow seasonal peak.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by David Darrell-Lambert
Range map
Range map
822visible hotspots
16180visible records
4states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Also note gray upperwing, which separates it from Sandwich Tern. Gray rump and tail are diagnostic if seen well. On juveniles, note dull legs, secondaries with dark centers, and a weakly patterned upperwing. Strictly coastal, usually found on beaches and estuaries.
Gallery
Regional timing
Queensland
Northern Territory
Western Australia
New South Wales