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Roseate Tern ID



The mystery tern off SC could well have been a Roseate Tern, though one
mark is bothersome. Yes, they have a black bill, and yes they have a
very long tail, and yes, they are very white. But, they are a delicate
bird, slightly smaller in body size than Forster's and Common. I doubt
either was around for comparison, however. Thus, could you really judge
the size?  Was Sandwich Tern completely ruled out (could you be sure
there was no yellow tip or a shaggy crest)?

Now that Brian Patteson has already found 7 Roseates at Cape Point, NC,
they are migrating now. But, Roseates are VERY rare, even offshore,
where I have seen just one in well over 100 pelagic trips. It IS a
pelagic migrant, but numbers in the East are so small that it would be
hard to encounter one on a pelagic trip.

I think Roseate still might be hypothetical or provisional in SC. Seems
odd that one hasn't shown up on a beach somewhere for folks to get
photos, or at least a large number of birders to convene to see it.  It
appears on beaches on many occasions in NC, enven where not nesting.
Ususally, it may represent prospective nesters, generally with other
terns that are settling down to nest. I saw a Roseate a few years ago in
a tern colony at Holden Beach in June, and they have shown up often at
Cape Point.

My guess is that the bird was a Roseate, but do note that it is a
delicate bird smaller in body size than Forster's and Common.

Harry LeGrand

--
Harry LeGrand
NC Natural Heritage Program
1615 MSC
Raleigh, NC 27699-1615
(919) 715-8687 (work)
FAX: 919-715-3085
e-mail: harry.legrand@ncmail.net