Whiskered Tern

Chlidonias hybrida

Very rare migrants from Southern Europe with 200 records about 4-5 per year in Britain from April-October.

 Breeds in marshes of lakes & rivers in Southern & Eastern Europe, Central & Southern Africa.

Winters in Africa.

Breeding Adults has white cheeks and red legs and bill.

The crown is flecked with white in the Juvenile, and the hindcrown is more uniformly blackish, though in the winter adult this too is flecked with white.

In Winter, the forehead becomes white and the body plumage a much paler grey.

Juveniles have a ginger scaly back, and otherwise look much like Winter Adults. 

The call is a characteristic krekk.