Elegant Tern vs Lesser Crested Tern

In short

Elegant Tern and Lesser Crested Tern are medium-sized terns with similar appearances, but can be distinguished by their bill color and crest. Elegant Tern has a longer, more slender orange bill and a shaggier crest, while Lesser Crested Tern has a shorter, thicker orange-yellow bill and a neater crest.

Identification tips

1. Bill color and shape: Elegant Tern has a longer, more slender orange bill; Lesser Crested Tern has a shorter, thicker orange-yellow bill. 2. Crest: Elegant Tern has a shaggier crest compared to the neater crest of the Lesser Crested Tern. 3. Plumage: Look for the pink flush on the belly of the Elegant Tern during breeding season. 4. Location: Consider the geographic range; Elegant Tern is more likely on the Pacific coast, while Lesser Crested Tern is found in the Indian Ocean region.

Size

Both species are medium-sized terns, with Elegant Tern being slightly larger and more slender.

Plumage

Elegant Tern has a distinctive pink flush on its belly during breeding season and a long, shaggy black crest. Lesser Crested Tern lacks the pink flush and has a neater black crest.

Behaviour

Both species are social and nest in colonies, but Elegant Tern is more closely associated with Heermann's Gulls and Caspian Terns in its nesting sites.

Habitat

Elegant Tern primarily breeds on Isla Rasa, Mexico, and disperses along the Pacific coast. Lesser Crested Tern has a wider range, found in coastal regions of the Indian Ocean and western Pacific.