Whiskered Tern

25-27 cm; span c. 70 cm. Largest marsh tern. Breeding Plumage: bill dark red; legs red; black cap pulled well down; cheeks white (hence 'whiskered'); upperparts pearl-grey; throat/breast silver-grey; underparts smutty black. Non-breeding: bill, legs black/dull red; plumage paler - forehead white; crown streaked black; black line through eye widens on rear crown; ear coverts white; slim pale rear collar; upperparts/rump/tail pale grey; underparts white. Juvenile: heavily mottled dark brown on mantle/shoulders. Immature: like Non-breeding, with darker shoulder patch, paler rump. Open companies work into wind, swooping and dipping but seldom plunge-diving over shallow wetlands, crops; often fly fast cross-country, like waders. Hawks for flying insects.