Bridled Tern

Overview
Bridled Tern: Medium pelagic tern. Black crown, nape separated from gray-brown upperparts by whitish collar. Chevron-shaped white forehead patch extends behind eye. Long pointed wings and deeply forked tail. Whitish underparts; underwings have brown trailing edge. Black bill, legs.

Range and Habitat
Bridled Tern: Pelagic. Breeds April - August in Florida Keys. Found in Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico and along shoreward edge of Gulf Stream north to North Carolina, rarely as far as New Jersey.

INTERESTING FACTS
The Bridled Tern was long thought to be a casual visitor to the North American coast, but as more birders travel out to the Gulf Stream, it has become evident that they are fairly common 20 or 30 miles offshore. They may be establishing a breeding population in the Florida Keys. A group of terns are collectively known as a "ternery" or a "U" of terns.