Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)

                                                                                               Photos by BarrytheBirder 

The Caspian Tern, bulky and almost the size of a Herring Gull, is the largest of terns found in central Canada, the Great Lakes, Canadian maritime provinces and some U.S. states.   It is found in a variety of marine and freshwater habitats and nests in small colonies on gravel banks, coasts, sandbars, or in larger colonies of gulls or other terns.

Its call is a harsh, raspy 'kahhrrrr', 'kowk', or 'ca-arr', and normally is the only large tern seen in in inland waters.   Like most terns, it flies high, hovering, then dives into water to capture fish in its bill.

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BarrytheBirder