This gull is often seen on the rivers and large jhils of Northern India in winter.
The Terns, 200-205
These beautiful birds have been aptly termed the swallows of the sea, for like swallows they are birds of powerful flight, and remain for long periods on the wing. But they are not confined to the sea. In India, wherever there are rivers, jhils, or ponds there are terns to be found.
Their prevailing colour is white, and most of them have some black in their plumage.
To repeat what I said in Bombay Ducks: “No one can fail to recognise a tern. If you see a slenderly-built bird of whitish tinge, with long swallow-like wings and forked tail, a bird which sails along easily over water, sometimes diving for a fish, more frequently picking something off the surface of the water, you may set that bird down as a tern.” (Illus. B. D., p. 270.)
[200]. Hydrochelidon hybrida: The Whiskered Tern, or the Small Marsh Tern. (F. 1496), (J. 984), (+II.)
Winter plumage: A white bird with grey back, wings, and tail. Some black on the nape of the neck and a black streak behind the eye. Bill, legs, and toes dull red.
Summer plumage: The whole of the upper part of the head is black. The abdomen becomes dark grey, so that at this season the whiskered tern is liable to be confounded with the black-bellied tern ([204]). The tail, however, of the whiskered species is not so deeply forked.
Very common in N. India. An inland bird found on marshes, rivers, tanks, and paddy fields.
[201]. Hydroprogne caspia: The Caspian Tern. (F. 1498), (J. 982), (+IV.)