Great Crested Tern vs Red-tailed Tropicbird

In short

The Great Crested Tern and Red-tailed Tropicbird are distinct in both appearance and behavior. The tern is a large, slender seabird with a distinctive black cap and yellow bill, while the tropicbird is known for its long red tail streamers and white plumage. Both species are found in coastal and oceanic environments, but their behaviors and flight patterns differ significantly.

Identification tips

• Look for the long red tail streamers of the Red-tailed Tropicbird, absent in the tern.
• Check the bill color: yellow in the tern, red in the tropicbird.
• Observe flight patterns: terns dive for fish, while tropicbirds glide and perform aerial displays.
• Note group behavior: terns often in flocks, tropicbirds more solitary.

Size

The Great Crested Tern is generally smaller and more slender than the Red-tailed Tropicbird, which is more robust with long tail streamers.

Plumage

The Great Crested Tern has a black cap and a yellow bill, with grey upperparts and white underparts. In contrast, the Red-tailed Tropicbird is mostly white with a red bill and distinctive long red tail streamers.

Behaviour

Great Crested Terns are often seen in flocks, diving for fish, while Red-tailed Tropicbirds are more solitary or seen in pairs, known for their graceful gliding and aerial displays.

Habitat

Both species inhabit coastal and oceanic environments, but the Great Crested Tern is more commonly found near shorelines and islands, whereas the Red-tailed Tropicbird is often found further out at sea.

Voice

The Great Crested Tern has a harsh, grating call, while the Red-tailed Tropicbird's vocalizations are less frequently heard and not as well-documented.