Elegant Tern vs Great Crested Tern

In short

The Elegant Tern and Great Crested Tern are similar medium-sized terns with distinctive crests. The Elegant Tern is notable for its long, shaggy crest and a slender, slightly downcurved orange bill, while the Great Crested Tern has a shorter crest and a thicker, straighter yellow bill.

Identification tips

1. Bill Shape and Color: Look for the slender, slightly downcurved orange bill of the Elegant Tern versus the thicker, straighter yellow bill of the Great Crested Tern. 2. Crest: The Elegant Tern has a longer, shaggier crest compared to the shorter crest of the Great Crested Tern. 3. Plumage: Check for the pinkish flush on the underparts of the Elegant Tern during the breeding season. 4. Location: Consider the geographic location; Elegant Terns are more likely along the Pacific coast of North America, while Great Crested Terns are found across the Indian Ocean and western Pacific.

Size

Both species are medium-sized terns, but the Great Crested Tern is generally bulkier and more robust compared to the more slender Elegant Tern.

Plumage

The Elegant Tern often shows a pinkish flush on its underparts during the breeding season and has a long, shaggy black crest. The Great Crested Tern has a shorter crest and lacks the pinkish flush, with a more uniform grayish-white body.

Behaviour

Both species are social and often found in flocks, but Elegant Terns are more likely to be seen nesting in dense colonies, particularly on Isla Rasa, Mexico. Great Crested Terns also nest in colonies but are more widespread.

Habitat

Elegant Terns are primarily coastal, often found along the Pacific coast of North America, especially around their breeding sites in Mexico. Great Crested Terns have a broader range, found in coastal regions across the Indian Ocean and western Pacific.

Voice

Both species have similar harsh, rasping calls typical of terns, but specific differences in vocalizations are not well-documented.