Elegant Tern (Thalasseus elegans), Amado Wastewater Treatment Pond, Pima County

This Elegant Tern was found by Karen Kluge and Terry Rosenmeier on 01 May 2018 and photographed by Terry on the same date.

Casual in Arizona, with 14 accepted state records and a few additional records pending. Most records are from the Tucson area. 

Elegant Tern is distiguished from Royal Tern by the long, drooping bill, usually orangish at the tip, and by the longer more extensive shaggy crest.  It differs from Caspian Tern in the long crest, thin bill and white undersides to the wingtips. Larger than Forster's or Common Tern with a shaggy crest and different bare parts color and shape.

01 May 2018, photo by Terry Rosenmeier

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