Whiskered Tern

The whiskered tern is the largest of the marsh terns. Its size, black cap, strong bill and more purposeful flight recall the common or Arctic tern, but the short, forked-looking tail and dark grey breeding plumage above and below are typical marsh tern characters. The summer adult has white cheeks and a red bill and legs. The juvenile's crown is flecked with white, and in the winter adult the hindcrown is flecked too, so the black ear-coverts and hindcrown appear as a C-shaped band. (Wikipedia, general species account)

The species has a number of geographical races that differ mainly in size and minor plumage details. The tropical forms are resident, but European and Asian birds winter south to Africa and the Indian subcontinent. It breeds in colonies on inland marshes, sometimes among black-headed gulls, which provide some protection. The name hybrida reflects Pallas's belief that it might be a hybrid of the white-winged black tern and the common tern. (Wikipedia, general species account)