Arctic Tern

Great pose with wings extended-they are so stark white exposure is tricky. Very well done here.

T.

Very nice colors and great action.

Nice pose and I like the seaweed perch. Congrats on your lifer. Well done

Excellent pose, great capture, Axel.

Great little bird. I really like the light on its wings and the detail in the seaweed.

A fine image in lovely soft light. Great pose with extended wings and sweet detail.

goshawkjv wrote:Is it the light primaries that make this an Arctic? I find many people get quite hysterical over this species.. is it rare?
regardless, its a beautiful shot.. I love the perch

Yes, that is one of the characteristics. Arctic Tern has a thin, distinct black line and tip on their primeries, while Common Tern usually have a broad and more blurred line. Also Arctic Tern has a deep red tone to its bill and it's shorter and is also missing the black tip that exists on a Common Tern. Then there is a overall fell about the bird. Arctic Terns usually feel significantly small-headed and their legs are very short if seen standing. Unfortunately I have no idea about its' status in the US.

Alex, great shot! Love the wingspread, great exposure and nice looking FG.

Lovely pose with the wing stretch, the seaweed in the foreground adds to the frame.

Ivan Sjögren wrote:

goshawkjv wrote:Is it the light primaries that make this an Arctic? I find many people get quite hysterical over this species.. is it rare?
regardless, its a beautiful shot.. I love the perch

Yes, that is one of the characteristics. Arctic Tern has a thin, distinct black line and tip on their primeries, while Common Tern usually have a broad and more blurred line. Also Arctic Tern has a deep red tone to its bill and it's shorter and is also missing the black tip that exists on a Common Tern. Then there is a overall fell about the bird. Arctic Terns usually feel significantly small-headed and their legs are very short if seen standing. Unfortunately I have no idea about its' status in the US.

Alex, great shot! Love the wingspread, great exposure and nice looking FG.

Thanks for the explanation, Ivan! There is one more very distinct feature and that is the deeply forked tail of the Arctic Tern. They are not particularly threatened around here but nest fairly far north which might make it a species many people get excited about. I remember only a few instances when Arctic Terns nested as far south as Massachusetts.

This is also a species that flies very long distances, nesting in the Arctic and goes down close to Antarctica during migration: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/PHOTO/LARGE/aab_arte_map.jpg 

Axel, congrats getting a 'first for you' bird, wonderful wings up calling pose on interesting seaweed perch.

Congrats on a beautiful and successful first time species for you. The light and exposure is awesome. I love the vegetation too