Photos copyright: monacoeye • Nice • May 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: White Winged Tern
Latin: Chlidonias leucopterus
Other: Guifette leucoptère
Family: Sternidae • Terns

This White Winged Tern behaved very much like the Whiskered Terns, also Marsh Terns, which could be seen last week, swooping down to the surface of the water. It has a very distinctive black head and beak. According to Collins, not very common in Western Europe.More photos...

Bird name: Whiskered Tern
Latin: Chlidonias hybridus
Other: Guifette Moustac (Fr)
Family: Sternidae • Terns

Photos: monacoeye • Nice • April 2009

The Whiskered Tern is the largest of the Marsh Terns (Fr: Guifettes) - seen here recently reappeared by Nice Airport.

Whereas the Common Terns fly high and fast, or in large flocks which fish in the sea off shore, these Whiskered Terns (if that’s indeed what they are) appeared more solitary, seen in ones and twos, and behaved similarly to nearby swallows, swooping around near the mouth of the river, occasionally skimming the water.More photos...