SAUNDER'S TERN Sternula saundersi

For many years the subject of debate as to whether it is a species or a race of Little Tern, so similar are the two. Breeding from the Red Sea and Persian Gulf to islands in the Indian Ocean, it winters from the Seychelles to the Cocos Keeling Islands, but birds also reach the coast of mainland Africa, and everywhere confusion with Little Tern is a problem. The black cap in non-breeding plumage is reduced more than that of Little, this is possibly the best feature to indicate correct identification.

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