Hi folks!

I saw a tern today at English Bay Beach and am wondering whether it was a Common or Caspian, if indeed it's even possible to tell this time of year. Unfortunately I only got a good enough look to narrow it down to those two species--it flew off really quickly after taking a plunge-dive. My Sibley's says that Commons come through during migration and that Caspian are resident in the summer, but I'm not sure whether it qualifies as summer yet. Does anybody know?

Thanks!

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"Japanese scientists from Keio University have found that pigeons have self-cognitive abilities higher than 3-year-old humans. " (link)

I've seen lots of Caspians this year, but no common terns yet. Caspians arrive around early May and are common by June, starting to leave in September.
Common Terns come through around May, but don't stay. They come back down in August again and leave around the start of October.
I don't know which tern you saw, but I would guess Caspian. Most commons have probably headed north by now.

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Else Mikkelsen
Vancouver, B.C.

Thanks so much for your response, Esle, I really appreciate it!

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"Japanese scientists from Keio University have found that pigeons have self-cognitive abilities higher than 3-year-old humans. " (link)