River Tern vs Roseate Tern

In short

The River Tern and Roseate Tern can be distinguished by their bill color and tail length. The River Tern has a yellow bill and a shorter tail, while the Roseate Tern features a black bill and a longer, deeply forked tail. Both species are similar in size and structure, but these features are key in identification.

Identification tips

1. Check the bill color: yellow for River Tern, black for Roseate Tern. 2. Observe the tail: River Tern has a shorter tail, Roseate Tern has a longer, deeply forked tail.

Plumage

The River Tern has a yellow bill, while the Roseate Tern has a black bill. The Roseate Tern also has a longer, deeply forked tail compared to the shorter tail of the River Tern.