A large, long-winged, dagger-billed tern: angular, lively, and expressive compared with smaller terns. Beside Common or Arctic Terns it looks extremely pale, with much brighter white underparts. Black legs and bill are useful clues.

The largest tern in most of Europe. It is a rather lanky, angular, bony-looking tern – but its pale plumage, set off by a black crest and a long, spiky, black bill, give it a refined, clean, and handsome character. It’s fishing technique – a faster dive from a greater height giving a bigger splash as it plunges headlong into the sea – it can often be discerned right out on the far horizon.