Caspian Tern

The Caspian tern is the largest tern in the world, 48 to 60 cm long with a wingspan of 127 to 145 cm and a weight of 530 to 782 g. Adults have black legs, a long thick red-orange bill with a small black tip, a black cap, white neck, belly and tail, and pale grey upperparts. Unlike many terns it keeps its black cap in winter, with some white streaking on the forehead. The call is a loud, heron-like croak (Wikipedia, general species account).

It breeds on large lakes and ocean coasts in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australasia. North American birds move to southern coasts, while European and Asian birds spend the non-breeding season in the Old World tropics. It has no subspecies.