Indian Birds 



In winter it is a white bird with grey wings 

 and some black in the head. In summer its 

 head is jet black. The bill, legs, and feet are 

 black. Its tail is not very deeply forked. 



It is found both inland and on the coast. 



203. Sterfia seena : The Indian River Tern. 

 (F. 1503), (J. 985), (+III, with a long, deeply 

 forked tail.) 



This is the common tern of N. India, and 

 frequents all the large rivers. 



Its head and nape are deep black. The upper 

 plumage French grey. Lower plumage very 

 pale grey. Chin white, and a white patch on 

 each cheek. Bill bright deep yellow. Legs red. 

 This bird moults about Christmas time, and 

 for a few weeks after the moult there is much 

 white in the head, but this soon disappears. 



204. Sterna melanogaster : The Black-bellied 

 Tern. (F. 1504), (J. 987), (-III, but with a 

 long, deeply forked tail.) 



Head black (with some white after the moult 

 at Christmas), abdomen black. Cheek, chin- 

 throat, and wing lining white. Rest of plum, 

 age grey, paler on the tail than on the back. 

 Bill orange-yellow ; legs and feet dull red. 



One of the commonest of the terns, especially 

 inland. 



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