Large-billed Tern (Phaetusa simplex simplex) 14 August 2015. Pantanal -- northern Transpantaneira (km 0-60), Mato Grosso, BR
This bizarre South American endemic tern seems to be unrelated to other terns and is thus placed in its own genus. Although normally confined to South America it has wondered north with records from Illinois, Ohio and New Jersey. Two subspecies are normally recognized. This is the widespread nominate race. It is replaced to the south by a poorly differentiated darker mantled race but some authors consider the differences to be too slight for recognition. Nikon P510 |