Hydroprogne caspia

Little Bay, Rockport, TX

I had first identified this bird as a Forster's Tern, but it is actually a Caspian Tern. This tern has dark legs (Forster's Terns have orange legs), a thick orange black-tipped bill (Forster's bill is thinner), and dark wing tips (Forster's wing tips are light gray). Caspian Terns are the largest of terns in North America, and are common coastal residents.