One of the Common Terns was in breeding plumage, the other was not, but I don't know how old. It was not brown above (fresh juvenile) and I did not notice any pale barring on the gray (worn juvenile) but distance and lighting did not favor seeing that, and I did not notice any particular begging or juvenile-type behavior. It did have the prominent dark carpal bar, white forecrown and white breast of a non-breeding Common, contrasting nicely with the breeding plumage which was noticeably grayer below.  Of course I wonder was this a parent offspring duo like the Caspians seem often to be, or would one of a mated pair molt sooner than the other, or was this just 2 random birds?
--Dave Nutter

On Aug 19, 2012, at 08:03 PM, [email protected] wrote:

--
Cayugabirds-L List Info:
Welcome and Basics
Rules and Information
Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
Archives:
The Mail Archive
Surfbirds
BirdingOnThe.Net
Please submit your observations to eBird!
--


Reply via email to